Nutrient Combatant of Regular Aging Degradation: A Key Player in Health Preservation
Two types of vitamin K - K1 and K2 - have gained attention in recent years for their unique roles in human health. Despite being generally associated with blood coagulation, research over the past decade has revealed critical differences between these subtypes.
Vitamin K is increasingly regarded as an essential group of vitamins for human health, with potential benefits for several chronic conditions common among North America's aging population. K1, primarily responsible for blood clotting, is crucial in preventing excessive bleeding. However, K2 plays significant roles in maintaining bone, vascular, joint, and cognitive health.
Key differences between K1 and K2 have been identified. K2, for instance, is crucial in the maintenance of bone health, helping increase bone strength and density, while inhibiting bone resorption and reducing fracture risk. Additionally, K2 regulates the deposition of calcium in tissues, thereby preventing calcification in organs.
Low levels of K2 have been associated with an elevated risk of heart problems, according to emerging evidence from animal and clinical studies. On the other hand, the United States and Canada do not have recommendations for the use of vitamin K2 for osteoporosis, but Japan, where studies on its effects on bone health have been conducted, recommends K2 as the standard of care.
Vitamin K2 is also important for vascular health. It regulates the circulation of calcium in the body, preventing calcium from depositing in blood vessel walls. Research has shown that vitamin K2 can effectively stabilize mobile calcium, reduce artery calcium levels, and inhibit calcium deposition in blood vessel walls.
In a seven-year study of over 4,000 subjects, those with the highest tertile intake of menaquinone (vitamin K2) significantly reduced their risk of coronary heart disease compared to those with the lowest intake.
In energy metabolism, mitochondria, found in cells, rely on vitamin K2 for regulating cellular energy metabolism and repairing mitochondrial dysfunction. Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin K2 inhibits inflammatory responses and repairs mitochondrial damage induced by oxidative stress.
Brain health also benefits from vitamin K2. Oxidative and neuroinflammatory mechanisms of cellular damage are associated with many neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative conditions. Vitamin K2 can provide support in maintaining nerve integrity and normal brain function, including cognition.
Vitamin K2 is predominantly found in animal products like cheese, eggs, and meat, as well as fermented foods. Natto, a fermented soy product, is the highest source of vitamin K2. Recent research calls for a separate recommended daily intake for vitamin K2, but current recommendations lump vitamin K into one group.
In conclusion, vitamin K1 and K2 play distinct roles in maintaining human health, particularly in bone, vascular, joint, cognitive health, and aging. Understanding the differences between these vitamins can help individuals make informed decisions about their diets to promote overall well-being.
- The unique roles of vitamin K in human health extend beyond blood coagulation, with vitamin K2 particularly significant for brain health, contributing to maintaining nerve integrity and normal brain function, including cognition.
- Integrative medicine emphasizes the importance of nutrition in healthy aging, and research suggests that adequate intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of heart problems and coronary heart disease.
- Science continues to explore the potential benefits of vitamin K2 for health-and-wellness, including its role in energy metabolism, repairing mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibiting inflammatory responses.
- To fully reap the benefits of vitamin K2 for overall well-being, individuals may need to pay attention to food sources, such as animal products like cheese, eggs, and meat, as well as fermented foods. Natto, a fermented soy product, is the highest source of vitamin K2. However, current recommendations lump vitamin K into one group, and there is a growing call for a separate recommended daily intake for vitamin K2.
