How does vitamin K affect health?

Vitamin K can help prevent and treat both cardiovascular and bone and joint disorders. It inhibits the calcification of blood vessel walls, which is a known factor leading to reduced tissue elasticity within this system and impeded blood flow. Insufficient availability of this vitamin can lead to coronary heart disease and, over time, to myocardial infarction.

1. Prevention of osteoporosis
2. Where to get vitamin K?
3. When might you need more?

Prevention of osteoporosis

Vitamin K also plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Although this condition is mainly associated with vitamin D, these compounds exhibit synergistic activity. Vitamin K is needed to activate a protein involved in mineralisation of bones, which is why it can be an effective support for people at risk of bone loss (including the elderly). Deficiencies of this compound can cause even a minor injury to have serious long-term consequences.

Where to get vitamin K?

Vitamin K is found in foods in the forms of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2). The former is mainly present in plant-based foods (e.g. green leafy vegetables), while the latter is found in animal-based foods (e.g. meat). A sufficient level of vitamin K1 intake for adults to maintain good health is approximately 55–65 µg.

When might you need more?

The need for vitamin D may increase significantly with the use of certain anticoagulants or diseases that interfere with absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. In these cases, the dosage should be consulted with a doctor, while in the case of a risk of deficiency in the diet or a risk of coronary heart disease or osteoporosis, it may be beneficial to use supplementation in doses slightly exceeding the requirement (up to about 100 µg).