What is Vitamin K2? The role of Vitamin K2 for health

Vitamin K2 is not a familiar nutrient in the nutrition table such as vitamin A, vitamin B, protein, … but it is a vitamin that holds many beneficial uses for health. Let’s find out what vitamin K2 is, the role of vitamin K2 in health right below.

What is Vitamin K2?

Vitamin K2, also known as menaquinone, is a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents osteoporosis, helps strengthen bones , is found in cheese, foie gras, chicken liver or chicken breast.

Vitamin K is divided into 2 main groups including:

• Vitamin K1 : Also known as phylloquinone, is found in plant-based foods like green leafy vegetables.

• Vitamin K2 : Also known as menaquinone, vitamin K2 is also divided into several different groups, the most important of which are MK-4 and MK-7. Vitamin K2 can be found in animal foods and fermented foods.

Vitamin K2 helps prevent cardiovascular disease

Vitamin K works to prevent calcium from being deposited in the lumen of the arteries – the leading risk factor for many dangerous cardiovascular diseases . In a study over 7 to 10 years, people who took the highest levels of vitamin K2 had a 52% higher risk of developing arterial calcified plaques and a 57% lower risk of cardiovascular disease. .

In contrast, vitamin K1 had no effect in these studies. However, these studies were all observational studies and could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

In addition to these observational studies, there are now highly plausible biological mechanisms for the effectiveness of vitamin K2, as well as its close relationship with cardiovascular health. So you should still provide a full range of healthy foods containing a lot of vitamin K2 such as green vegetables, salmon, beef, … every day.

Vitamin K2 improves bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis

One of the important roles of vitamin K2 is to be involved in the metabolism of calcium – the main micronutrient in human bones and teeth . Much evidence from controlled studies has suggested that vitamin K2 has many benefits for bone health in the body. A 3-year study of 244 postmenopausal women found that taking vitamin K2 supplements helped slow the progression of aging bone mineral density loss.

The evidence is that recently, Japan has officially recommended people to take vitamin K supplements to prevent and treat osteoporosis.

Vitamin K2 helps fight cancer

There are many studies that have been done to find an association between vitamin K2 and certain types of cancer. To date, two clinical studies have shown that vitamin K2 reduces the recurrence of liver cancer and prolongs survival. In addition, researchers conducted an observational study on 11,000 men over a period of time and concluded that high levels of vitamin K2 supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. paralysis.

Therefore, no matter what age you are, you need to pay attention to regular and adequate vitamin K2 supplements to avoid the risk of cancer.

The role of vitamin K2 for pregnant women

Without vitamin D or vitamin K, especially MK7, to transport this calcium to the fetus, they will cause accumulation in soft tissues or blood vessels, affecting the health of the mother.

Therefore, in addition to providing calcium, vitamin K2 supplementation for pregnant women is also extremely necessary.

Additional sources of vitamin K2

The type of vitamin K2 derived from nature and the best for the body, to mention natto, food from fermented soybeans, originated in Japan.

Besides, cheese, foie gras, chicken liver or chicken breast… are also foods rich in K2.

It is impossible not to mention powdered milk . Understanding the importance of K2 for health, brands often add a certain amount of vitamin K2 to their milk powder, to provide consumers.

In addition, some foods such as sauerkraut, beef, pork, egg yolks, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, etc. are also rich sources of vitamin K2.

Notes when using vitamin K2

When using vitamin K2, you should supplement your body with other vitamins such as A and D, because they interact with each other.

It is necessary to add foods rich in fat, to enhance the absorption of this nutrient.

Usually, the amount of vitamin K2 in the daily diet is very small. Therefore, we should supplement milk powder containing this nutrient, to be best for the body.

Should choose powdered milk of reputable brands, to ensure the best quality and best for the body.

Source: Healthline

You will be interested in:

• What is Vitamin K? What effect? In which foods?
• What is Vitamin D3? Is it different from vitamin D?
• What is Vitamin D?

Through this article, you already understand what Vitamin K2 is, right? Vitamin K2 has many uses in preventing osteoporosis, making bones strong, and fighting liver cancer. It should be noted to fully supplement vitamin K2! Don’t forget to see if you should add a combination of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2? Please!

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