Vitamin K has a particularly important effect in the body: it ensures that wounds do not bleed too much. But what is the difference between vitamin K1 and K2?
vitamin K is important for bones, but also has another fundamental effect in the body: it regulates blood clotting. A vitamin K deficiency can manifest itself as excessive bleeding from injuries.
Green vegetables such as spinach or broccoli are considered good sources, but dairy products also provide vitamin K. You can find out what the difference is between vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 and other important information about the vitamin in this article.
What is Vitamin K?
According to the Society for Applied Vitamin Research (GVF) Vitamin K is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. These are stored by the body – mainly in the liver. The term vitamin K is a collective term for a group of compounds that are slightly different chemically but have different bioavailability. This means: They are absorbed differently by the body. Nevertheless, they seem similar. The two best-known active forms are vitamin K1 and vitamin K2.
What is the difference between vitamin K1 and vitamin K2?
According to the GVF, vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is mainly found in plants. According to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is mainly found in animal and fermented foods. Dairy products are considered a good source of vitamin K2.
According to the German pharmacist newspaper Vitamin K2 has better bioavailability than vitamin K1. The different forms also react differently with vitamin K antagonists, active ingredients that displace the vitamin from the liver. As the umbrella organization of osteoporosis self-help groups reports, vitamin K2 is more important for bones, cartilage and blood vessels than K1. It is not eliminated from the body as quickly. According to research, vitamin K2 is also 15 times more powerful as an antioxidant than vitamin K1.
Effect: What does vitamin K do to the blood?
The European Food Safety Authority keeps a list of health claims. The following scientifically confirmed claims are approved for vitamin K:
- vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting
- vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones
But that’s not all: According to the GVF, vitamin K may also protect the blood vessels. In the liver, vitamin K is involved in the formation of blood clotting factors; they cannot be produced without vitamin K. Anticoagulant drugs such as Marcumar, which are used for patients with thrombosis, take advantage of this and displace vitamin K from the liver.
What effect does vitamin K have on bones?
As the GVF reports, research suggests that vitamin K reduces the risk of bone fractures. In postmenopausal women, vitamin K may even reduce susceptibility to osteoporosis. According to the consumer advice center, these disease-related statements have not yet been scientifically proven. Studies simply show that older women with low vitamin K intake have a higher risk of bone fractures. The exact connections still need to be examined.
But vitamin K helps maintain healthy bones, that’s for sure. It is responsible for the utilization of calcium in the body. According to the GVF, this can improve bone density. In older people, low vitamin K intake could therefore be a risk factor for brittle bones. But vitamin D, vitamin C and zinc are also important for healthy bone function.
How much vitamin K do you need per day?
According to the DGE, the daily requirement for vitamin K increases with age. Men aged 19 and over should consume 70 micrograms, women need 60 micrograms a day. From the age of 51, the requirement for men increases to 80 micrograms; women should consume 65 micrograms through food. Vitamin requirements do not increase during pregnancy. The intake recommendation does not differentiate between vitamin K1 and K2.
Who Should Take Vitamin K?
The supply of vitamin K is good in most countries; a deficiency is very rare. People with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, such as Chron’s disease, for example, are considered a risk group for vitamin deficiency, which not only affects vitamin K. Chronic liver damage can also lead to the body not being able to utilize vitamin K well and deficiency symptoms occurring. Only a doctor can determine whether a deficiency actually exists using blood tests. According to the GVF, newborns are given vitamin K to prevent cerebral hemorrhages.
When should you not take vitamin K?
According to the Institute for Nutritional Medicine at the Technical University of Munich, people who take anticoagulant medications should not take additional vitamin K tablets or check their intake with a doctor. However, foods that contain a lot of vitamin K do not hinder the course of therapy. “Even consuming larger quantities” had little effect on blood clotting.