September 2016 SPDS Book

Background on Vitamin K

Vitamin K1

(phylloquinone)

M d b l

d l

Vitamin K2

- Menaquinone 4

• a e y p an s an a gae-

• Only 5-10% of ingested K1 reaches

circulation

• Pharmacokinetics like K1

• Used in many studies due to

commercial availability

Vitamin K2

- Menaquinone 7

• Found in certain fermented foods

• Readily absorbed (nearly 100%) and

distributed to several tissues

Significance

Vitamin K is an essential vitamin in many organs.

Vitamin K is a necessary co-factor for activation of the Gla-proteins. Once

activated, the Gla-protein can bind calcium

Vitamin K important for:

▪

Blood clotting

▪

Building of bone (combined with calcium and vitamin D)

▪

Prevention of vessel calcification

The “Tri-Essentials”

Three essentials for optimal bone

health