Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin K2 is also known as menaquinone.

Vitamin K2 can be found in certain foods, particularly animal products and fermented foods like dairy products. Aside from food, you can also get it from supplements. Find out why vitamin K2 supplementation is so important and how much you should take.

Benefits of vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 can provide the body with a number of health benefits, including:

Promotes bone health

Vitamin K2 plays an important role in maintaining bone health. According to research, vitamin K2 supplementation can reduce the risk of fractures in people with osteoporosis by maintaining and increasing bone density.

Protects heart health

Vitamin K2 protects the heart by preventing arterial calcification, which can lead to artery hardening. Vitamin K2 may also help reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, a condition caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

Promotes blood clotting

Getting enough vitamin K2 is important because it allows your body to produce the proper amount of carboxylase enzyme, which is required for normal blood clotting.

It helps prevent cancer

According to some studies, vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of liver cancer recurrence and increase the survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Other research indicates that higher vitamin K2 intake is associated with a lower risk of dying from cancer.

Nonetheless, more research is needed to back up these findings and better understand the mechanisms and effectiveness.

Vitamin K2 supplement dosage

The recommended vitamin K2 dosage varies depending on age, gender, diet, and health conditions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Nutrition Board recommend the following daily vitamin K intake (overall):

• Adult males: 120 micrograms
• Adult women: 90 micrograms (including pregnant and breastfeeding women)

Vitamin K2 supplements are available in a variety of forms, including capsules and soft gels. The most commonly used types are MK-4 and MK-7. The recommended dosage for these supplements is as follows:

• Vitamin K2 (MK-7) ranges from 50 to 120 micrograms per day; for heart health benefits, ranges from 180 to 360 micrograms per day
• Vitamin K2 (MK-4) is often used in higher doses than MK-7

Vitamin K2 is considered safe to take in high doses. There have been no reports of poisoning associated with this vitamin. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before starting vitamin K2 supplementation. This is necessary to ensure proper dosage and avoid interactions with other medications that may be affected by vitamin K.

Want to know more about taking vitamin K2 or other vitamins? You can make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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