At Nancy’s Nifty Nook, customers will find a large assortment of vitamins and health food supplements including reputable brands that produce Vitamin K (K1 and K2), both of which are effective in supporting overall health.
In particular, vitamin K2 plays a wide range of biological roles. Research supports that it may, in conjunction with vitamin D3 and calcium, be an effective treatment for conditions such as osteoporosis. Vitamin K2 also supports cardiovascular health and may significantly reduce the number of cases of patients presenting with heart conditions and deaths related to heart disease.
What is vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2 prevents calcium from being deposited into soft tissues such as the kidneys, where it can cause kidney stones, or into arteries, where it can increase the risk of heart disease. Vitamin K2 helps transport calcium into the bones and teeth, improving bone density and helping to develop strong teeth.
Where can vitamin K2 be found?
Vitamin K2 is found primarily in animal products such as cured fish, fermented cheese and yogurt. It is also found in meat, dairy, eggs and natto (fermented soybeans). Due to refrigeration and the canning process, people tend to eat less fermented foods nowadays. As well, animal protein is not always a good source, unless people are eating grass-fed beef. Grain-fed beef does not produce enough vitamin K2 because the animals themselves are not consuming enough vitamin K1 to produce vitamin K2.
What are the signs of vitamin K2 deficiency?
Signs of vitamin K2 deficiency are often detected when it is too late. Waning bone density or plaque build-up in arteries (composed of fat, calcium and cholesterol etc.) may take years before they are detected. Vitamin K2 is important for healthy teeth as it supports mineralization and prevents tooth decay. The following are conditions may be related to vitamin K2 deficiency:
- osteoporosis;
- atherosclerosis;
- increased risk of cancer, including breast, prostate, and liver cancer;
- diabetes;
- varicose veins;
- wrinkles;
- dental cavities
- narrow, crowded dental arch;
- Crohn’s disease; and
- kidney disease.
How does vitamin K2 support bone health?
To effectively support bone health, vitamin K2 should be taken in conjunction with vitamin D3. Vitamin K2 ensures that the calcium travelling through the bloodstream reaches the bone and is properly incorporated into the bone matrix while vitamin D3 is necessary to build and maintain a health skeleton.
Pregnant women can will also benefit from vitamin K2 and vitamin D3. When taken together, vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 help improve bone health in the expectant mother and is needed by the fetus for skeletal development both during gestation and after birth.
In post-menopausal women, studies have shown that those who take vitamin K2 along with vitamin D3 have reduced the age-related decline in bone mineral density and provided strength in the spine and neck, which results in less arterial stiffness. Without the support of vitamin K2 and vitamin D3, these conditions contribute greatly to the loss of height in the lower chest region. Vitamin K2 also helps to form collagen in the bones.
Other important features and safety
Vitamin K2 has also been shown to effectively fight inflammation by lowering the inflammatory markers in rheumatoid arthritis.
As for the safety of taking vitamin K2, there are currently no known upper limit or toxic dose quantities. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should be conscious of their vitamin K2 intake as deficiency has been linked to birth defects.
Doses of vitamin K2 over 45 mcg may negatively interact with oral anti-coagulant therapies. Patients receiving blood-thinning medications (ex. Warfarin) should not take vitamin K2 without consulting a health care practitioner.
Customers visiting the store are often searching for a calcium supplement. In most cases, Nancy’s Nifty Nook will often recommend a vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 combination supplemented with extra vitamin D3 up to 5,000 mcg. For those already taking a calcium supplement, it is advised to make sure it contains vitamin D3 and magnesium.
Want more information on vitamin K2 or other supplements? Stop by the Nancy’s Nifty Nook located at located at 152 Holland Street E. in Bradford.