The correct form of Vitamin K can be very beneficial to your heart and arteries.

I thought that I would comment further on this interesting Vitamin as I have referred to it in a couple of recent posts.  The references were related to Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and Vitamin K2 (menaquinone).  Vitamin K1 is the form that is most commonly used in supplements although we only use the Vitamin K2 form in our supplements.

The reason why we use this form is because it is much more beneficial to the body.  Whereas K2 has been proven to be effective in multiple areas the jury is still out on the benefits of K1, although some companies try to ‘piggyback’ the benefits of K2 and relate it to K1.

Why then doesn’t everyone use the K2 version?  Simple answer…cost!  K1 is only about $300/kg but K2 is around $14,000/kg.

A recent study was published which helps demonstrate not only the effectiveness of Vitamin K2 but also how it compares with Vitamin K1.  If you are using any version of Total Balance and/or Cardio-Klenz you may find this article interesting.

You can read this article below.

We use the K2 form in our multi-vitamin/mineral formula Multi-Xtra as well.

Vitamin K2 linked to better heart health

By Stephen Daniells

Increased intakes of vitamin K2 from dietary sources may reduce the build up of calcium in arteries that leads to hardening of the blood vessels, says a new study.

A higher intake of K2, but not K1, was associated with a 20 per cent reduction in calcification of the arteries, according to findings published in the journal Atherosclerosis.

“This study shows that high intake of menaquinone [K2], but probably not phylloquinone [K1], is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate intakes of menaquinone could therefore be important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease,” wrote lead author Joline Beulens from the University Medical Center Utrecht.

The study, which examined the dietary habits and cardiovascular health of 564 post-menopausal women, adds to a growing body of science linking the vitamin to improved heart health.

However, as the researchers state, results have been inconsistent, potentially due to “different effects of phylloquinone and menaquinone on coronary calcification”, they said.

Atherosclerosis, known as hardening or furring of the arteries is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the cause of over 50 per cent of deaths in Europe and the US.

Study details

Beulens and co-workers assessed the diets of the 564 women (average age 67, average BMI 26.7 kg per sq. m) using a 77-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). A technique called multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) was used to assess levels of arterial calcification.

The researchers report that the average intake of vitamin K1 was 217 micrograms per day, while vitamin K2 intakes averaged 31.6 micrograms per day for the whole study population.

Furthermore, 82 per cent of the K1 came from vegetables, while K2 came predominantly from cheese (54 per cent), milk products (22 per cent), and meat (15 per cent).

Based on the MDCT exam 62 per cent of the women had calcification of the arteries, said the researchers. When the intakes of K1 and K2 were divided into four groups from the lowest to highest, no association was found between K1 intakes and calcification. However, high consumption of K2 (about 45 micrograms per day) was associated with 20 per cent decreased coronary calcification, compared with low consumption of K2 (about 18micrograms per day).

Explaining the differences between vitamin K forms

The metabolism of menaquinone and phylloquinone was cited as the probable reason as to why the different forms of vitamin K showed different results with respect to calcification.

“Phylloquinone is predominantly transported with the triacylglycerol-rich fraction, which is mainly cleared by the liver. Phylloquinone is therefore very effectively cleared from circulation by the liver to function as a cofactor for proteins in blood coagulation,” wrote the researchers.

“Menaquinones, on the other hand, are found in both triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, which are equally transported to extrahepatic tissues,” they said. “Menaquinone could therefore more effectively influence MGP and coronary calcification.”

MGP (matrix Gla protein) is a regulator of calcium crystal formation in the circulatory system. MGP is a vitamin K-dependent protein – meaning vitamin K is required to activate this important protein.

Comment

Commenting on the study, vitamin K researcher Leon J Schurgers from VitaK at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands said: “This study confirms once again that natural Vitamin K2, also called the menaquinones, is clearly linked to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.”

“While all K vitamins are important, it seems that especially the natural vitamin K2 intake is essential to cardiovascular health,” added Schurgers, who was not involved in the Utrecht study.

The vitamin K family

Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) is found in green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and spinach, and makes up about 90 per cent of the vitamin K in a typical Western diet.

Menaquinones (MK-n: with the n determined by the number of prenyl side chains) make up about 10 per cent of Western vitamin K consumption and can be obtained from different dietary sources. MK-4 can be found in animal meat, MK-7, MK-8, and MK-9 are found in fermented food products like cheese, and natto is a rich source of MK-7.

MK-4 is distinct from other MKs because it is not a major constituent of the spectrum of MKs produced by gut microflora, but can be derived from K1 in vivo.

A synthetic form of vitamin K, known as K3, does exist but is not recommended for human consumption.

Source: Atherosclerosis
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.07.010
“High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification”
Authors: J.W.J. Beulens, M.L. Bots, F. Atsma, M.-L.E.L. Bartelink, M. Prokop, J. M. Geleijnse, J.C.M. Witteman, D.E. Grobbee, Y.T. van der Schouw