New research coordinated by Queen Mary University of London has identified a key role that Vitamin K2 plays in preventing the development of blood vessel aneurysms.
The study was published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology in May 2019.
In their review researchers found that healthy vascular muscle cells secrete Vitamin K-dependent proteins.
Preventing calcification
Having enough of these proteins circulating has been shown to inhibit the accumulation of calcium—a process known as “calcification.” And since calcification is a key part of the process whereby blood vessels accumulate harmful plaque deposits, any nutrient that inhibits the process is highly desirable.
Though calling for follow-up studies, researchers were optimistic about their preliminary findings. “It is tempting to postulate that Vitamin K deficiency plays a role in aneurysm formation. Vitamin K supplementation holds the potential to lower the risk of aortic aneurysms and improve cardiovascular outcome,” summarized researchers.
Though the study only briefly discussed the differences between Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2, other researchers commenting on the findings noted the study may be an endorsement only for the K2 (menaquinone) type of Vitamin K.
Important differences between K1 and K2
Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) has important health properties of its own. However, when it comes to vascular health, K1 is of little benefit because it gets taken up and stored in the liver–where it plays a critical role in maintaining proper coagulation of the blood.
On the other hand, it is the Vitamin K2 type that circulates through the blood and is made available to the muscle cells for protein synthesis.
For the purposes of this study it appears researchers were less interested in delving into the differences between the two types, and simply wanted to highlight the critical benefits of basic “Vitamin K.”
For this reason the report was written as a generic Vitamin K paper. The prudent researcher, however, will want to educate themselves on the profound differences between K1 and K2–and supplement accordingly.
When it comes to supplementing Vitamin K, the whole food supplements from Optimal Health Systems can provide valuable options. Click the links below to learn more:
Optimal Longevi-D
(with K2, CoQ10 and Vitamin D)
Optimal 2 Vitamin/Mineral
(with K2 and all other essential vitamins and minerals)
Essential DAK1K2
(with both K1 and K2, and other fat-soluble vitamins)
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Article source: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology, Vol. 39, No. 7.