What is Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin, a derivative of naphthoquinone group with biological activity of phylloquinone. It is one of the indispensable important vitamins in the human body, and it plays a vital role in many aspects of health.
The Origin of Vitamin K2
To understand vitamin K2, you must first understand vitamin K. Vitamin K is an active substance that can affect the synthesis of prothrombin and the blood coagulation process. Vitamin K can be divided into two categories, one is fat-soluble vitamins, namely vitamin K1 extracted from green plants and vitamins synthesized by intestinal bacteria K2, the other is water-soluble, that is, synthetic vitamin K3 and vitamin K4. Naturally occurring vitamin K is divided into two types according to its side chains: vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Among them, vitamin K2 has high activity and medicinal value.
The Role of Vitamin K2
(1) Anti-osteoporosis. The role of vitamin K2 is to activate matrix osteocalcin. Under the action of vitamin K2, matrix osteocalcin is activated to form many calcium binding sites on the protein. This activated calcium binding site can follow into the bone of calcium binding. After the active site combines with calcium ions entering the bone, the physiological bone formation process is completed, so that human bones are hard and can support body weight. If there is a lack of vitamin K2, matrix osteocalcin cannot be activated, calcium cannot combine with osteocalcin, and bone cannot really form, so calcium will be lost. The lost calcium enters many other organs of the body and deposits in the organs, which will lead to calcification of the organs and cause many diseases. Therefore, vitamin K2 has special significance for the fixation of calcium in the bone and osteoporosis.
Controlled trials have also found that taking vitamin K2 supplements can slow the age-related decline in bone mineral density. In addition to this, the Japanese study also found that vitamin K2 reduced spinal fractures by 60%, hip fractures by 77%, and non-spine fractures by 81%.
(2) Improve dental health. One of the main regulators of dental health is osteocalcin, a protein critical for bone metabolism that can be activated by vitamin K2. Dentin is the calcified tissue beneath the enamel on teeth, and osteocalcin can trigger mechanisms that stimulate the growth of new dentin.
(3) Helps fight cancer. Vitamin K2 can negatively regulate the tyrosine kinase and phosphatase activity related to cell carcinogenesis, and regulate the regulatory factors related to cell proliferation, and finally lead to the cell cycle of tumor cells to inhibit the growth of tumors.
(4)Improve diabetes. Vitamin K2 can up-regulate insulin gene, promote islet β cells, release insulin, improve the body's metabolism, and help diabetic patients recover.
How to Tell if You Are Deficient in Vitamin K2?
People can easily understand whether they are deficient in this type of nutrient by evaluating their diet and lifestyle.
(1). One or more of the symptoms of backache, back pain, leg cramps, fatigue, and limp limbs;
(2). Ever injured your own bones due to a slight collision or fall;
(3). Excessive drinking;
(4). There have been no menstruation for more than 12 consecutive months (female, except during pregnancy);
(5). Weakness in walking, and the ability to bear weight is greatly reduced;
(6). Taking hormone drugs for more than 3 consecutive months;
(7). Height is 3 cm lower than when he was young;
(8). Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day;
(9). Menopause before the age of 45 (female);
(10). The pulse pressure difference of blood pressure increases. When the pulse pressure difference exceeds 45, it is accompanied by different degrees of vitamin K2 deficiency; (pulse pressure difference refers to the difference between systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure)
How to Get the Vitamin K2 Your Body Needs?
In modern diets, the average intake of vitamin K2 is very low, and vitamin K2 is mostly found in fermented foods, such as tofu, milk, and natto.
The daily requirement of vitamin K2 (45 μg) is equivalent to:
4 kg beef
5 liters of milk
5 liters of yoghurt
80g soft cheese
59g hard cheese
140g egg yolk
Consumption of any of the above references, if you do not get enough Vitamin K2 in your diet, you need Vitamin K2 supplementation.
The best food sources of Vitamin K2: Currently the best food source of Vitamin K2 is natto.
The following values are the Vitamin K2 content contained in 100 grams of food:
| Natto | 1062 micrograms |
| Pork Sausage | 383 micrograms |
| Hard Sheese | 76 micrograms |
| Pork Chops (With Bone) | 75 micrograms |
| Chicken (Leg/Thigh) | 60 micrograms |
| Soft Cheese | 57 micrograms |
| Egg Yolk | 32 micrograms |
What is The Recommended Intake of Vitamin K2?
In January 2001, the Institute of Medicine of the Food and Nutrition Board of the United States provided the recommended intake of vitamin K2 (MK7) for different groups of people:
2 micrograms for infants 0-6 months; 2.5 micrograms for infants 6-12 months; 30 micrograms for toddlers 1-3 years old; 55 micrograms for children 4-8 years old; 60 micrograms for children 9-13 years old micrograms; 75 micrograms for adolescents 14-18 years old; 120 micrograms for men over 19 years of age; 90 micrograms for women over 19 years of age (including pregnant and breastfeeding women).
Do We Need to Pay Attention to Taking Vitamin K2?
Most people do not have any side effects when taking the daily recommended amount of Vitamin K, but patients who use Warfarin for a long time should pay attention to that Warfarin will inhibit the function of Vitamin K2 in the patient's body for a long time, leading to accelerated bone loss, osteopenia, and extensive cardiovascular calcification.
Post time: Jul-16-2015