Vitamin K: Most Overlooked & Forgotten Vitamin!

Advantages of Vitamin K

The importance of vitamin K is often overlooked. It's been labelled as the "missing nutrient"!

Although its possible absence from the Standard Diet is a mistake, vitamin K deficiency is not uncommon. You can reap the benefits of vitamin K throughout your life. Your bones will thank you, and you'll reap a slew of other health benefits as a result.

Vitamin K comes in a variety of forms. The term "vitamin K" is used to describe a family of fat-soluble vitamins. Main types include:

1. Vitamin K1 (also known as phylloquinone)
2. Vitamin K2 (also known as menaquinone)

What Role do Vitamins K1 and K2 Play?

Vitamin K comes in two main varieties. These two things are crucial to your health, but in different ways.

Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone)

Given that it is produced by plants, Vitamin K1 is known by the scientific name phylloquinone. The word "phyllo" comes from the Greek for "leaf," and "quinone" describes the compound's chemical makeup. 

Vitamin K1 is primarily found in plant foods. Though K1 is most abundant in dark, leafy greens like kale and collards. The enzymes in your body that cause your blood to clot require Vitamin K1 as a co-factor (a substance necessary for the activity of an enzyme). Without vitamin K1, you would bleed to death from the tiniest cut you made while chopping your vegetables.

After the body's requirements for blood clotting have been met, any excess vitamin K1 can be put toward suppressing inflammation. To accomplish this, it inhibits the production of cytokines, which are biological signalling molecules in your body. Inflammation is triggered and increased by the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Unfortunately, bone loss is a side effect of this chronic low-grade inflammation.

Vitamin K2 (menaquinone)

Bone health depends on vitamin K2, the form of vitamin K that plants produce naturally.

Minerals like calcium are essential for strong bones. However, calcium intake is monitored and controlled by two proteins that are activated by vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 activates a group of calcium-binding proteins through carboxylation

1. Osteocalcin guides the body's calcium stores to the place they're most needed: the skeleton.

2. Matrix GLA Protein is to prevent calcium from entering the blood vessels, kidneys, brain, and other soft tissues.

You can think of vitamin K2 as your own personal set of road signs for calcium.

So even if you get plenty of calcium from food and supplements, your bones will remain weak without vitamin K2. Bone health and strength can be maintained with the help of calcium and vitamin K2. A third player, vitamin D, has been found to be essential to team success. See, vitamin D aids in the body's absorption of the calcium you consume.

Calcium absorption is improved when vitamin K2 is combined with vitamin D.

Different Vitamin K2 Varieties 

To sum up, we know there are two primary types of vitamin K, vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Strong bones necessitate vitamin K2, the form most commonly available. However, things are made a little more complicated by the fact that vitamin K2 comes in a few different varieties. Don't fret, though; we'll fill you in.

Two types of vitamin K2 have been the focus of studies in recent years:

MK-4

Vitamin K1 and the various forms of vitamin K2 are absorbed in the small intestine and then transported to the liver. Here, however, the script shifts based on the type of submission.

The structure of MK-4 is very close to that of vitamin K1 (as you can see in the diagrams above). Therefore, they serve the same purpose in your body. That means your liver is the first organ to benefit from MK-4, as it is responsible for activating blood clotting proteins (remember, blood clotting is the primary job of vitamin K1). 

If there is any surplus, it is stored as triglycerides (a type of fat molecule bound to a sugar molecule) and released into the bloodstream. Aside from the fact that this leftover MK-4 will carry out the bone-supporting tasks we outlined in the previous section, it is also important to note MK-4 doesn't last very long at all! The "half-life" of MK-4 is 6-8 hours, which is how long it takes to clear out of your system.

MK-7

Vitamin MK-7 is structurally distinct from vitamins K1 and MK-4, as can be seen in the examples provided. Because of this, its function in your body is different.

While the liver ultimately benefits from Vitamin MK-7, absorption occurs in the small intestine first. However, it will not be used to activate the blood clotting proteins (unless vitamin K1 and MK-4 are severely deficient). Instead, your body delivers MK-7 to your circulatory system by carrying it in LDL cholesterol. Thereafter, it triggers the proteins that keep calcium where it belongs (in the bones) and out of the bloodstream, the arteries, and the muscle.

And here's something else: LDL cholesterol can stay in your system for days at a time. MK-7 can persist in your system for up to four days. (Keep in mind that MK-4 degrades in just 6-8 hours.) Because of its longer half-life, MK-7 can be taken on a regular basis to maintain a constant blood level.

To put it another way, it's like having a separate place to store vitamin K2. It can be used on a daily basis to activate osteocalcin and matrix GLA Proteins, which direct the body's calcium supply where it belongs: into the bones.

Because MK-7 is bioavailable for a longer period of time, a low daily dose may be all that is necessary to maximize the body's ability to activate osteocalcin and matrix GLA Protein.

To activate osteocalcin and matrix GLA Protein, however, you would need to take a very large dose of MK-4 multiple times daily. It has recently been discovered that MK-4 is helpful for those with osteoporosis and osteopenia. However, it can only be taken at 45 milligrams per day (15 milligrams three times a day.)

A Simple Method for Obtaining Vitamin K2 (and support your bones)

It can be difficult to get enough vitamin K2 from food alone, especially the MK-7 form, which remains in the body long enough to provide benefits to bones and other tissues.

Nuvibliss Gourmet Multivitamin has the full recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin K2. In addition, it's the highly sought-after MK-7 variety.

Vitamin K in Nuvibliss Gourmet Multivitamin is derived from Natto beans, making it one of many all-natural ingredients. It's the easiest and most efficient way to ensure adequate intake of vitamin K2 for bone health.

Issues with Vitamin K2's Safety

Vitamin K2 by itself poses no health risks.

However, vitamin K2 can be affected by interactions blood thinners. It's best to check with your doctor before supplementing with vitamin K2 if you're already taking blood thinner medication.

Key Takeaway

When it comes to health news, vitamin K2 is usually overlooked... nevertheless that’s a huge oversight. For those who are worried about their bone health in particular.

Consuming calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth, and vitamin K2 activates proteins that keep calcium out of your organs, arteries, and soft tissue and into your bones. Remember that the long chain MK-7 form of vitamin K2 is preferable because it remains in the body long enough to provide the bone benefits mentioned above, in addition to many other incredible advantages.

However, consuming enough vitamin K2 is notoriously challenging (especially the MK-7 form).

To this end, Nuvibliss' Gourmet Multivitamin contains the optimal amount of highly bioavailable Vitamin K.

Including Omega-3 fatty acid and Zinc mineral, the Nuvibliss Gourmet Multivitamins cover all bases when it comes to your health.