Vitamin K: What are the health benefits of this nutrient?

Vitamin K rich broccoli and cauliflower impart a number of health benefits. Vitamin K exists naturally as vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is mainly found in green leafy vegetables as well as olive oil and soyabean oil, whereas vitamin K2(menaquinone) is found in small amounts in chicken, butter, egg yolks, cheese and fermented soybeans. Here are some ways in which Vitamin K benefits your body:

1)Osteoporosis is a leading contributor to fractures worldwide, causing more than 8.9 million fractures annually.15 Moreover, Osteoporosis affects an estimated 200 million women worldwide. It has been found in research studies that Vitamin K1 given daily to postmenopausal women with osteopenia caused a greater than 50% reduction in clinical fractures. There was also a 75% reduction in cancer incidence with vitamin K1. A recent meta-analysis has shown that vitamin K2 significantly reduces hip (77% reduction), vertebral (60% reduction) and all non-vertebral fractures (81% reduction).

2) Low vitamin K status is associated with increased vascular calcifications. Vitamin K administration has been shown to significantly delay the progression of Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and, in addition, it has also been shown to significantly delay the deterioration of arterial elasticity.

3) Vitamin K significantly improves insulin sensitivity in those with diabetes. Vitamin K is involved in pancreatic -cell proliferation, insulin sensitivity, production of adiponectin and increased glucose tolerance. Thus, vitamin K may improve insulin sensitivity in men with diabetes, some research studies have found.

4) Vitamin K2 has been shown to inhibit the growth of human cancer cell lines, including hepatoma lines, as well as to treat myelodysplastic syndrome.

6) Vitamin K2 may improve bone remodelling in patients with haemodialysis with low serum parathyroid hormone levels.

With reference from

DiNicolantonio JJ, Bhutani J, O'Keefe JH. The health benefits of vitamin K. Open Heart. 2015;2(1):e000300. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2015-000300.