It is not as well-known as vitamin C or D, but Vitamin K2 does some amazing things in the body. In order to truly recognise how K2 works with the body, we need a brief primer on the science.
The Activation Process
Most proteins are activated by vitamin K2. Without K2, these proteins stay dormant and cannot execute their critical functionality. Carboxylation – K2 is a cofactor that allows certain proteins to bind calcium so it can be delivered where needed.
Osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein (MGP), two important proteins, are reliant on K2 activation. These are the calcium traffic cops in your body and K2 is needed for them to work correctly. For a Vitamin K2 Supplement, visit https://www.vitortho.co.uk/supplements/categories/a-z-all-supplements/vitamin-k2-200mcg-mk7
Building Strong Bones
Bone-building cells, also known as osteoblasts, generate a hormone called osteocalcin. This bioavailable form of calcium is then available to be integrated into your bone matrix, making bones dense and strong. Even if you consume enough calcium and vitamin D, without adequate K2 osteocalcin will not be activated – meaning the body cannot put your useful bone-building soldiers to work.
Protecting Your Arteries
Matrix Gla-protein (MGP) – MGP helps inhibit soft tissue mineralisation, mainly blood vessels walls. Activated by K2, MGP prevents calcium from building up in arteries and helps to keep them supple. Arterial calcification, also known as hardening of the arteries, is a well-documented risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Research also indicates that the more K2 you take in, the less likely you are to experience arterial calcification and develop heart disease. K2-activated MGP, in areas it’s not good for calcium to accumulate (these are more prone towards calcification due to warfarin induced K depletion) effectively acts as a calcium inhibitor.
The Vitamin D Connection
Vitamin K2: Vitamin D invites calcium from your diet into your body, while vitamin K2 tells it where to go. This is because if you lack Vitamin K2, taking the vitamin D will only increase calcium in your soft tissue and that’s always a bad thing since you’ll either develop osteoporosis or be calcifying all over!
Different Forms, Different Effects
There are 2 forms of K2, MK-4 and MK-7. MK-7 has a long half life in the body and is active for several days whereas MK-4 acts quickly but is cleared from your body quicker.
It’s more than a vitamin, it is literally the master regulator … and makes sure calcium goes to your bones instead of calcifying in your cardiovascular system.
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