Vitamin K is a must-have vitamin for sound bone health. It comes in two primary forms: Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and Vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Supplements like Menaquinone K2-7 are natural forms of Vitamin K2 and purely soy-free. It is one of the best forms of Vitamin k that contributes to optimal bone health, heart health, and nerves.
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Promises of Vitamin K2 for bone health
Vitamin K2 is a better form of vitamin k than Vitamin K1 that supports the health of bones, but too little intake of either form can adversely affect the health of your bones. As per studies, zero or less intake of Vitamin K leads to osteoporosis, low bone mass, and increases the risk of fracture to a considerable level. Vitamin K2 preserves the lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) that helps in preventing the following:
- Vertebral fractures in patients that are suffering from glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis
- Avoid osteoporotic fractures in patients that are having age-related osteoporosis.
- Increase the metacarpal BMD in the paralytic upper extremities of patients.
- Vitamin K2 plays a crucial role in building bone metabolism.
Proper Intake of Vitamin K2
As per studies of the American health organization, lower vitamin K intake leads to a higher risk of hip fractures in both men and women. Women who consume less than 109 mcg of Vitamin K per day have a higher probability of hip fractures and are further linked to low bone density.
Acceptable daily intake of Vitamin K is 120 mcg for men and 90 mcg for women. It has also been said that healthy women who consume 180 mcg of Vitamin K daily have low bone density, especially during their menopause phase.
All about Vitamin K2
Both forms of Vitamin k offer different health benefits to different parts of the human body. Vitamin k1 and Vitamin k2 prevent excessive bleeding, ensure healthy blood clotting, and avoid bruising when blood vessels get injured.
- Getting Vitamin K2 in our diet supports good heart health by preventing hard deposits on the wall of arteries. This supports the presence of smooth and healthy blood vessels that assure healthy blood circulation and thereby reduce the risk of damaging blood clots and heart disease.
- Vitamin K2 is entirely different from Vitamin K1 and contains isoprenoid side chains.
- There are multiple subtypes of Vitamin k2 that are known as menaquinones (MKs). Scientists have further numbered these MKs into MK-4, MK-13, depending on their length of side chains.
- A human body absorbs Vitamin k2 in the form of MK-7, ten times more than Vitamin k1.
- Vitamin k2 supports anti-cancer properties that can stop cancer cell activity. This further improves the rate of survival and prevents the recurrence of cancer.
- Vitamin K2 is found in meat, fermented foods, and dairy products.
- The human body stores Vitamin K2 in the brain and kidneys.
Sources of Vitamin K2
You can find a good source of Vitamin K2 in beef, pork, egg yolk, fatty fish such as salmon, liver, other organ meats, dairy products, especially hard cheese, and a Japanese dish of fermented soybeans called Natto.
Benefits of Vitamin K2 for bones
Vitamin K2 plays a centralized role in the metabolism of calcium, which is majorly found in your bones and teeth. Intake of Vitamin k2 stimulates the calcium-binding behavior of two proteins that is Osteocalcin and matrix GLA protein. It helps in the building and maintenance of bones. Following are the significant health benefits of using supplements like Megaquinone K2-7 for bone health.
- Activation of Osteocalcin in bone cells: As natural forms of Vitamin K2, these supplements help the Osteocalcin take the required amount of calcium from the blood supply and stick it to the bone matrix.
- Helps in the formation of your bone matrix: Vitamin K2 plays a crucial role in forming bone matrix by activating two types of protein, i.e., protein S and periostin.
- Improve bone mineralization: Intake of Vitamin K2 helps increase bone mineralization, making them strong enough to carry the body mass.
- Reduce the risk of fracture: The proper intake of Vitamin K2 on a daily basis helps lower the risk of osteoporosis and osteomalacia in patients. Therefore, it lowers down the risk of bone fracture.
These benefits of Vitamin k2 help consumers accomplish their mobility goals and help them live a healthy life and the life of their dreams.
Bottom line
The right dose of Vitamin K2 since birth helps in proper physical growth and reduces the risk of depriving bone health. There are different doses recommended for each age group. It is essential to consume the recommended quantity of the dose by consulting a reputable orthopedic doctor.
