Vitamin K2 and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
The more Vitamin K2 you consume, the better your heart health. New research associates low K status with poor cardiovascular status.
Vitamin K2, specifically in the form of menaquinone-7 (MK-7), is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health. It activates matrix Gla-protein (MGP), a strong vascular calcification inhibitor. However, research shows that many adults over 40 often have a deficiency of tissue-specific vitamin K. This deficiency may be addressed through MK-7 supplementation.
A recent study found that individuals with higher inactivated Matrix Gla Protein (dp-ucMGP) levels were more likely to have central obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and impaired kidney function, underscoring the potential of improving vitamin K2 status to mitigate cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Vitamin K2 and Vascular Calcification Progression
Another study showed that elevated dp-ucMGP levels are significantly correlated with the long-term progression of coronary artery and aortic calcification, especially in older adults and those with diabetes, suggesting that low vitamin K2 status accelerates vascular calcification, a key risk factor for CVD.
Building on Earlier Research
Deep Dive Into K2
Significant research shows vitamin K2 from natural fermentation – especially its key long chain isomers MK-7 – to be essential for bone and cardiovascular-health support.
