Gut Health

Vitamin K2: A Mini Review

Summary: 

Had this review been written just 25 years ago, the metabolism of vitamin K would have been considered just in the context of its role in haemostasis.

During the last 25 years there has been intensive research with the vitamin K and its analogues which has surfaced the role of vitamin K2-7 (natural) and K2-4 (synthetic) in the human physiology in multiple functions.

The newly discovered functions extend throughout the body in the Ca metabolism giving rise to the label “Calcium Paradox” because Ca gets deposited in the vasculature instead of the required target bones.

Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble micronutrient which is needed for a unique posttranslational chemical modification in a small group of proteins with calcium-binding properties, collectively known as vitamin K – dependent proteins (VKD proteins) or Gla-proteins.

This review is general as well as specific to K2-7 to bring out its importance amongst other vitamin K analogues.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF.