Vitamin K2 serves many vital functions within our bodies, but most of us aren’t consuming enough of this nutrient to reap its rewards.
But you may be wondering: exactly what are the functions of vitamin K2?
By the end of this article, you’ll understand how vitamin K2 functions within the body and why an adequate intake of this nutrient is crucial in supporting our health.
Vitamin K2 plays a role in supporting blood coagulation and bone, dental, and cardiovascular health. A proper intake of this nutrient may prevent hemorrhages, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.
If you’re interested in learning more about the role of vitamin K2, keep reading. We have all the information you need on how this essential nutrient works and why it’s so necessary for us to consume enough.
What is vitamin K2?
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that performs the following essential functions within our bodies:
- Blood coagulation
- Decalcification of arteries
- Transportation of calcium
This essential vitamin comes in two forms: vitamin K1 and K2.
Vitamin K2 plays a vital role in blood clotting and offers unique benefits in supporting bone, oral, and heart health.
Blood coagulation
Vitamin K2 activates proteins necessary for blood clotting, a process where blood thickens to reduce bleeding.
A healthy amount of blood clotting is essential, or else we’d experience the following issues:
- Excessive bleeding
- Excessive bruising
- Hemorrhages
- Slow recovery rate of wounds
Anyone experiencing these problems may be suffering from a vitamin K deficiency and should look into vitamin K supplements to help support proper blood coagulation.
Bone health
Vitamin K2 also plays a vital role in bone metabolism, necessary to ensure strong and healthy bones.
Studies show that vitamin K2 improves bone quality and increases bone mineral density. With the daily use of a vitamin K2 supplement, the risk of having a fracture is reduced by an impressive 25%.
That’s why we want to make sure we’re consuming enough of this nutrient to avoid a deficiency, increasing the risk of:
- Osteoporosis
- Osteopenia
- Weak, brittle bones
- Fracturing
But how exactly does vitamin K2 work to support bone health and prevent these issues?
This vitamin transports the calcium absorbed by vitamin D and directs it to our bones. Bones need calcium to stay dense and strong, so the consumption of K2 and D3 together is so important.
Dental health
In the same way that vitamin K2 improves bone health, it also helps to improve dental and oral health.
Research shows that vitamin K2 may have a role in improving oral health by preventing dental caries, which are a type of tooth decay commonly referred to as cavities.
That’s because this vitamin deposits calcium not only in our bones but also in our teeth.
Calcium helps strengthen the hard outer shell of teeth known as enamel, which is why vitamin K2 is attributed to giving us a happier, healthier smile.
Cardiovascular health
Vitamin K2 also plays a vital role in heart health, as it helps to keep our veins, blood vessels, and arteries healthy.
But how exactly does it work? This essential nutrient can deliver calcium to our bones and teeth by taking it from our blood vessels.
This is important as a build-up of calcium in blood vessels causes hypercalcemia. This health condition results in blood vessel calcification and may eventually lead to heart disease.
That’s why a proper intake of vitamin K2 helps to reduce the risk of:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Vascular calcification
- Arterial stiffening
- Cardiovascular death
Because heart health is so important, it’s worth it for us to make the extra effort in consuming this vital nutrient.
Final thoughts
Vitamin K2 is a nutrient that’s rarely consumed in the western hemisphere, as its sources primarily consist of fermented foods that aren’t a regular part of our diet.
That’s why vitamin K deficiencies are relatively common, as a proper intake of vitamin K2 is hard to come by. Luckily, we can take dietary supplements to experience the health benefits of this nutrient.
FuelOrganics offers a high-quality vegan vitamin K2 supplement to support a healthy heart and bones.
Would you like to know more about Vitamin K2? Read our article about how much vitamin K2 you should take per day?
Trusted sources
- Schwalfenberg G. K. (2017). Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2017, 6254836.
- Southward K. A hypothetical role for vitamin K2 in dental caries' endocrine and exocrine aspects. Med Hypotheses. 2015 Mar;84(3):276-80. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2015.01.011. Epub 2015 Jan 19. PMID: 25636605.