Imagine that there is a vitamin that ensures that calcium is stored in the bones and not deposited in the arteries. Scientists have proven that vitamin K2 does just that. In short, vitamin K2 is essential for strong, normal bones and clean, elastic arteries.
Vitamin K2 regulates the way in which our body stores and utilizes the mineral calcium. Doctors have noticed that people with increased calcium loss, such as Postmenopausal women also have excessive calcium deposits in their arteries.
The lack of calcium in the bones leads to a decrease in bone density. The chronic excess of calcium in the arteries leads to a deposit of calcium in the vessel walls with all its consequences.
Current research results show that calcium metabolism only works properly if there is a sufficient supply of vitamin K2.
Vitamin K2 therefore has perfect double protection for bone health as well as for blood vessels and the cardiovascular system.
Vitamin K2 activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which is responsible for regulating calcium in the arterial walls. MGP is the most effective inhibitor against vascular calcification and can only be activated by vitamin K2.
A lack of vitamin K2 therefore inevitably leads to calcium deposits in the vessel walls. In fact, healthy arterial tissue contains 100 times more K2 than calcified arteries. Unfortunately, many studies clearly show that our diet does not contain enough vitamin K2 to optimally activate the Gla proteins in the bones and arteries.
A clear connection between vitamin K2 and the deposition of calcium in the vessel walls was first demonstrated in 2004 as part of the large-scale, well-controlled Rotterdam Heart Study.
In this Dutch study, around 4,800 women and men aged 55 and over took part in the course of 10 years. Those who ate vitamin K2-rich food during this period had 50% less calcium deposits in their arteries.
At the same time, they had a 50 percent reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease and a 25 percent lower death rate from any cause.
These benefits were only seen in participants who consumed more than 32 micrograms of vitamin K2 daily. In contrast, high consumption of vitamin K1 did not lead to such positive effects on the cardiovascular system.
Studies have shown that vitamin K2 is just as important for building and maintaining normal, strong bones as calcium and vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 causes the formation of osteocalcin. But only vitamin K2 can activate osteocalcin, the protein that stores calcium in the bones.
If there is a lack of vitamin K2, there is a decrease in bone density even if calcium and vitamin D3 are adequately supplied.
Instead, calcium is stored in the artery walls. This also explains why so many older people suffer from calcified arteries and at the same time have brittle, calcium-poor bones.
Certain proteins, the Gla proteins, are required to store calcium in the bones. However, these must be activated so that they can fulfill their function. Only vitamin K2 enables this crucial activation step.
Without activated Gla proteins, calcium moves from the bones into the artery walls in an uncontrolled manner. As early as 1984, scientists observed that patients with broken bones had 70% less vitamin K in their blood than a control group of the same age.
Vitamin K is usually only produced in small amounts in the intestine. However, the amounts are often not sufficient to activate the Gla proteins. Therefore, some people rely on food or vitamin K2 supplements.
However, there are clear signs that the Western population is consuming too little vitamin K. People over 50 are particularly at risk, because at this age the diet contains even less vitamin K and sunbathing is also severely restricted. A lack of vitamin K and also vitamin D is pre-programmed.
That is why Prof. Vermeer from the University of Maastricht recommends people over 50 to take vitamin K2 in a dosage of 100 to 200 µg per day. The higher dose of 200 µg is especially recommended for people who want to be sure that all matrix Gla proteins (MGP) are activated in the body.
For healthy people under 50, 50 µg daily are enough to be sufficiently supplied with vitamin K2. However, if you also take vitamin D daily, you should consume at least 100 µg vitamin K2 per day, although taking 200 µg vitamin K2 would be even better.
Persons who take blood anti-coagulants or suffer from a disturbance of blood coagulation, should talk to their doctor before taking this product.
The reason is that the intake of more than 45 µg of Vitamin K2 per day can reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulant medication based on Cumarin, such as Marcumar, for example. These blood anticoagulants work by inhibiting the effectiveness of Vitamin K2 in the body.
But since our body absolutely needs Vitamin K for healthy bones and clean arteries, we recommend not taking any blood anticoagulants that work on the basis of Vitamin K inhibition. Talk to your doctor to have him prescribe blood anticoagulants that work independent of Vitamin K. These are designated as Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC).
