Most people don't realize how valuable and essential Vitamin K is for all of us. We think of Vitamin K as only working in the liver to help build some coagulation factors, which help build clots to stop us bleeding. If we take Coumadin© (warfarin) to thin our blood then we should know we must not take Vitamin K as it reverses the action of this drug. Coumadin blocks the liver's production of certain clotting factors that depend on Vitamin K.
Vitamin K has some other very powerful actions in our body, especially in relation to how we handle calcium. Researchers have shown that Vitamin K turns on the system that directs calcium to be deposited in your bones. Part of this action also involves removing calcium from places it should not be, such as in plaques in your arteries. Think about this - if you have enough Vitamin K in your body, then you will tend to deposit calcium in your bone structure and keep it strong, instead of in your arteries where it can kill you. Recent research also suggests adequate Vitamin K can reduce your risk of developing unsightly varicose veins, improve brain health and reduce fracture occurrence.
There are three types of Vitamin K - K1, K2 and K3.
K1 (phylloquinone or phytonadione) comes from your intake of leafy green veggies and liver. Remember Popeye eating all that spinach? Spinach contains Vitamin K1. So do broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts and lettuce (other than iceberg lettuce). It is also the form used in prescription Vitamin K. However Vitamin K1 is tightly bound to the chlorophyll in these veggies and we may have problems releasing it for use in our bodies. Vitamin K1 is concentrated primarily in your liver, not your bones. Taking the right supplement of Vitamin K ensures we will have enough. If you take Coumadin, then your intake of these veggies and Vitamin K supplements should be as consistent as possible. That is, take the same amount of each veggie and vitamin K every week and have your Coumadin effects monitored closely in your blood.
K2 comes in a series of subtypes known as menaquinones. MK-4 comes from meat, while MK-7 comes from fermented natto. The MK-7 form of Vitamin K2 is likely the most potent form in the body and has been heavily researched. It is abosrbed up to ten times more effectively than K1 and also can last in the blood up to 3 days after ingestion. The specific subtype of K2 known as MK-7 lasts the longest in the body. It is also concentrated much more in the arterial walls and bones than Vitamin K1.
K3 (menadione) is a synthetic non-natural form and therefore not recommended.
I recommend all adults take a Vitamin K2 supplement, unless they take Coumadin (warfarin). It is possible to take Vitamin K with Coumadin but only if you are closely watched by your physician monitoring the Coumadin and you take a very stable dose of the supplement.
My favorite source is Full Spectrum Vitamin K and I recommend people take one Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Vitamin K supplements should be taken with fat-containing meals for best absorption.
drBob
Most people don't realize how valuable and essential Vitamin K is for all of us. We think of Vitamin K as only working in the liver to help build some coagulation factors, which help build clots to stop us bleeding. If we take Coumadin© (warfarin) to thin our blood then we should know we must not take Vitamin K as it reverses the action of this drug. Coumadin blocks the liver's production of certain clotting factors that depend on Vitamin K.
Vitamin K has some other very powerful actions in our body, especially in relation to how we handle calcium. Researchers have shown that Vitamin K turns on the system that directs calcium to be deposited in your bones. Part of this action also involves removing calcium from places it should not be, such as in plaques in your arteries. Think about this - if you have enough Vitamin K in your body, then you will tend to deposit calcium in your bone structure and keep it strong, instead of in your arteries where it can kill you. Recent research also suggests adequate Vitamin K can reduce your risk of developing unsightly varicose veins, improve brain health and reduce fracture occurrence.
There are three types of Vitamin K - K1, K2 and K3.
K1 (phylloquinone or phytonadione) comes from your intake of leafy green veggies and liver. Remember Popeye eating all that spinach? Spinach contains Vitamin K1. So do broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts and lettuce (other than iceberg lettuce). It is also the form used in prescription Vitamin K. However Vitamin K1 is tightly bound to the chlorophyll in these veggies and we may have problems releasing it for use in our bodies. Vitamin K1 is concentrated primarily in your liver, not your bones. Taking the right supplement of Vitamin K ensures we will have enough. If you take Coumadin, then your intake of these veggies and Vitamin K supplements should be as consistent as possible. That is, take the same amount of each veggie and vitamin K every week and have your Coumadin effects monitored closely in your blood.
K2 comes in a series of subtypes known as menaquinones. MK-4 comes from meat, while MK-7 comes from fermented natto. The MK-7 form of Vitamin K2 is likely the most potent form in the body and has been heavily researched. It is abosrbed up to ten times more effectively than K1 and also can last in the blood up to 3 days after ingestion. The specific subtype of K2 known as MK-7 lasts the longest in the body. It is also concentrated much more in the arterial walls and bones than Vitamin K1.
K3 (menadione) is a synthetic non-natural form and therefore not recommended.
I recommend all adults take a Vitamin K2 supplement, unless they take Coumadin (warfarin). It is possible to take Vitamin K with Coumadin but only if you are closely watched by your physician monitoring the Coumadin and you take a very stable dose of the supplement.
My favorite source is Full Spectrum Vitamin K and I recommend people take one Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Vitamin K supplements should be taken with fat-containing meals for best absorption.
drBob