{"id":2396,"date":"2026-09-04T06:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T05:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/?p=2396"},"modified":"2026-09-04T06:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T05:45:00","slug":"vitamin-k-benefits-k1-k2-bone-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/04\/vitamin-k-benefits-k1-k2-bone-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitamin K Explained: Blood Clotting, Bone Health, K1 vs K2 and What the Science Says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vitamin K Explained: Blood Clotting, Bones, K1 vs K2 and What the Science Really Says<\/h1>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-29-2026-08_07_11-PM.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-29-2026-08_07_11-PM.png 1536w, https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-29-2026-08_07_11-PM-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-29-2026-08_07_11-PM-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/optimizing-humans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-29-2026-08_07_11-PM-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K has a slightly unfortunate reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin C gets immunity. Vitamin D gets sunshine. B vitamins get energy. Vitamin A gets vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K gets blood clotting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Useful, certainly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not exactly glamorous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet vitamin K is considerably more interesting than its reputation suggests. It is an essential fat-soluble vitamin involved in activating proteins required for normal blood coagulation, and it also participates in the biology of bone and other tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More recently, vitamin K2 supplements have become increasingly popular, particularly alongside vitamin D, with claims ranging from stronger bones to cleaner arteries, improved heart health and even better brain function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of those claims have plausible biological foundations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plausible, however, is not the same as proven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what does vitamin K actually do? Is K2 better than K1? Should everyone taking vitamin D also take vitamin K2? And what happens if you&#8217;re taking warfarin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s look at the evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Vitamin K?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K is a family of fat-soluble compounds rather than one single molecule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two major groups discussed in human nutrition are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vitamin K2, or menaquinones<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K1 is predominantly found in plant foods, particularly green leafy vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K2 refers to a family of menaquinones, commonly abbreviated according to the length of their side chain, such as MK-4 and MK-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Different menaquinones occur in certain animal and fermented foods and can also be produced by bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are related compounds, but their absorption, metabolism and biological half-lives are not identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does Vitamin K Actually Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K acts as a cofactor for an enzyme involved in a process called gamma-carboxylation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That sounds like the sort of phrase designed specifically to make people stop reading nutrition articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The practical explanation is much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several proteins in the body need to be chemically modified before they can function properly. Vitamin K helps make that modification possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These vitamin K-dependent proteins include several involved in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blood coagulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regulation of coagulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bone metabolism<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other processes involving calcium handling within tissues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Without sufficient vitamin K, some of these proteins cannot function normally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vitamin K and Blood Clotting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is vitamin K&#8217;s best-established role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several coagulation factors depend on vitamin K for their normal biological activity, including factors II, VII, IX and X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K is also required for proteins C and S, which help regulate coagulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So describing vitamin K simply as the &#8220;blood clotting vitamin&#8221; is understandable, but slightly incomplete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It contributes to a carefully regulated coagulation system rather than simply telling your blood to clot as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Biology generally prefers balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens If You Don&#8217;t Get Enough Vitamin K?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clinically significant vitamin K deficiency can impair normal blood coagulation and increase bleeding risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Possible signs of significant deficiency can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy bruising<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bleeding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prolonged clotting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blood in the stool or urine in severe cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, overt vitamin K deficiency is uncommon in healthy adults eating a varied diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deficiency becomes more likely in situations involving significant fat malabsorption, certain gastrointestinal disorders or medications that interfere with vitamin K metabolism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Do Newborn Babies Receive Vitamin K?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of vitamin K&#8217;s most important medical uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Babies are born with relatively low vitamin K stores. Transfer of vitamin K across the placenta is limited, the newborn gut does not initially provide a substantial bacterial contribution, and breast milk contains relatively small amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This creates a risk of <strong>vitamin K deficiency bleeding<\/strong>, sometimes abbreviated to VKDB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VKDB can be extremely serious because bleeding can occur internally, including within the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K prophylaxis shortly after birth dramatically reduces this risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not a trendy wellness intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is preventive medicine with a very clear purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vitamin K and Bone Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where vitamin K starts appearing more frequently in the supplement aisle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One vitamin K-dependent protein is <strong>osteocalcin<\/strong>, a protein produced by bone-forming cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K is required for the carboxylation of osteocalcin, which helps enable its normal biological function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That provides a genuine mechanistic reason to investigate vitamin K and bone health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers have therefore studied whether vitamin K supplementation can improve bone mineral density or reduce fractures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer is not as straightforward as supplement advertising sometimes suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Vitamin K2 Strengthen Bones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some studies have reported potentially favourable effects of vitamin K, particularly certain K2 preparations, on markers of bone metabolism and some measures of bone health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, results across trials and reviews have been inconsistent, with differences in population, dose, form of vitamin K and study quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means there is biological plausibility and some encouraging evidence, but it does not justify treating routine K2 supplementation as an established requirement for every healthy adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bone health is also considerably bigger than one vitamin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Important factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adequate calcium intake<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adequate vitamin D status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protein intake<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resistance and weight-bearing exercise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hormonal health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smoking and alcohol exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Age and genetics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>No single softgel gets to take credit for the entire skeleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vitamin K2 and Heart Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is probably the most heavily marketed modern use of vitamin K2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another vitamin K-dependent protein, <strong>matrix Gla protein<\/strong>, is involved in regulating calcification within blood vessels and other soft tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This has led to a popular theory that vitamin K2 helps &#8220;direct calcium into the bones and away from the arteries&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That phrase is catchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also a substantial simplification of some very complicated physiology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Observational studies and clinical trials have investigated vitamin K status and vascular calcification, but evidence that routine K2 supplementation prevents cardiovascular disease or reliably reverses arterial calcification remains insufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mechanism is interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The clinical promise is interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Routine cardiovascular treatment? Not established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should You Take Vitamin K2 With Vitamin D?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This combination appears everywhere online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The logic usually goes something like this: vitamin D increases calcium absorption, while vitamin K activates proteins involved in calcium metabolism, therefore everyone taking vitamin D must also take K2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is some biological logic behind studying the nutrients together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the final conclusion is too strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is not currently convincing evidence that every person taking a normal vitamin D supplement also needs a separate K2 supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That does not mean K2 is useless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It means &#8220;vitamin D must always be taken with K2&#8221; is a stronger claim than current evidence supports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">K1 vs K2: What&#8217;s the Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K1 and K2 both contribute to vitamin K-dependent biological processes, but they differ in their chemical structures, dietary sources and pharmacokinetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vitamin K1<\/strong> is the predominant dietary form in many diets and is particularly abundant in green vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vitamin K2<\/strong> consists of several menaquinones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two forms frequently seen in supplements are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MK-4<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MK-7<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>MK-7 has a relatively long circulating half-life compared with vitamin K1 and MK-4, which allows blood concentrations to remain elevated for longer after supplementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pharmacological difference does not automatically mean MK-7 is universally &#8220;better&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Longer lasting and clinically superior are not synonyms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Foods Contain Vitamin K1?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Green vegetables are the stars here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Good sources include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spinach<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broccoli<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brussels sprouts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cabbage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other green leafy vegetables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some vegetable oils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A portion of leafy greens can contain a substantial amount of vitamin K1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your salad has apparently been doing coagulation biochemistry this entire time without mentioning it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Does Vitamin K2 Come From?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Menaquinones are found in certain fermented foods and some animal-derived foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most famous dietary source is <strong>natto<\/strong>, a traditional Japanese fermented soybean food that is particularly rich in MK-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some cheeses and other fermented foods can also provide menaquinones, although the amount and specific forms vary considerably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Small amounts of particular K2 forms are also present in foods such as eggs and meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Gut Bacteria Make Vitamin K?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, certain bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract can produce menaquinones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, exactly how much this contributes to human vitamin K requirements remains uncertain because much of the bacterial production occurs in the colon, while absorption and bioavailability vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So &#8220;your gut bacteria make vitamin K&#8221; is true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Therefore dietary vitamin K doesn&#8217;t matter&#8221; is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Vitamin K Do You Need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recommendations differ depending on the country and the system used to establish nutritional requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the United States, adequate intake levels for adults are approximately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>120 mcg per day for adult men<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>90 mcg per day for adult women<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>UK guidance takes a different approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NHS states that adults need approximately <strong>1 microgram of vitamin K per kilogram of body weight per day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, for example, a person weighing 70 kg would need approximately 70 mcg per day according to that general UK estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people should be able to obtain sufficient vitamin K from a varied diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Take Too Much Vitamin K?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike some other fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K1 and K2 have relatively low documented toxicity from ordinary dietary and supplemental intake in healthy adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No conventional tolerable upper intake level has been established for naturally occurring vitamin K forms because evidence of toxicity is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That should not be interpreted as permission to take unlimited amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More importantly, vitamin K has one clinically significant interaction that completely changes the conversation for some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vitamin K and Warfarin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is one section of this article worth remembering, it is this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Warfarin works by interfering with the vitamin K cycle, thereby reducing the activation of several vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means significant changes in vitamin K intake can alter the anticoagulant effect of warfarin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And this leads to one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding vitamin K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>People taking warfarin are not generally told to eliminate vitamin K from their diet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key issue is consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Consistency Matters More Than Avoidance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine someone taking warfarin who normally eats very few green vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They suddenly decide to become exceptionally healthy and begin consuming enormous spinach smoothies, kale salads and broccoli every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That major increase in vitamin K intake could alter their response to warfarin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reverse can also happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone who regularly consumes vitamin K-rich foods and then abruptly removes them may also change the stability of their anticoagulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The objective is therefore usually to maintain a reasonably consistent pattern of vitamin K intake while warfarin dosing and INR monitoring are managed accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not dramatically change your intake or start a vitamin K supplement without discussing it with the healthcare team managing your anticoagulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What About Other Blood Thinners?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every anticoagulant works like warfarin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban and dabigatran do not rely on vitamin K antagonism in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, the classic vitamin K dietary interaction associated with warfarin does not generally apply to these medicines in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, anyone taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication should still discuss new supplements with a pharmacist or prescriber rather than assuming every product is harmless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Vitamin K Improve Brain Function?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K-dependent proteins and vitamin K compounds are present within nervous tissue, and researchers have investigated potential relationships between vitamin K status and cognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Observational research has produced some interesting associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, evidence is not currently sufficient to establish vitamin K supplementation as a reliable cognitive enhancer in healthy adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, once again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important for normal biology does not automatically mean nootropic.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Vitamin K Improve Exercise Performance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no established evidence that routine vitamin K supplementation improves strength, endurance, muscle growth or athletic performance in vitamin K-replete adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K certainly contributes to normal physiology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if your pre-workout currently lacks MK-7, there is no compelling reason to panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Vitamin K Help With Energy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K is not an energy supplement in the conventional sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no reliable evidence that taking extra vitamin K provides a noticeable energy boost in healthy people with adequate nutritional status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If fatigue is persistent, unexplained or significant, investigating common causes is considerably more sensible than cycling through random vitamin bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should Everyone Take Vitamin K2?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No convincing evidence currently supports routine K2 supplementation for every healthy adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are interesting research areas involving bone health, vascular calcification and vitamin K-dependent proteins, and future research may clarify which groups benefit most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, however, &#8220;everyone needs K2&#8221; goes beyond what we actually know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your diet contains plenty of vegetables and other nutritious foods, you may already be obtaining adequate vitamin K without ever owning a bottle labelled MK-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vitamin K1 vs K2: Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Feature<\/th><th>Vitamin K1<\/th><th>Vitamin K2<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Other name<\/td><td>Phylloquinone<\/td><td>Menaquinones<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Major sources<\/td><td>Leafy green vegetables<\/td><td>Fermented foods and some animal foods<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Role in coagulation<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bone-health interest<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Yes, particularly MK-4\/MK-7 research<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Common supplement forms<\/td><td>K1<\/td><td>MK-4 and MK-7<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Proven cognitive enhancer<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Proven performance enhancer<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Forms Do Vitamin K Supplements Come In?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K supplements are commonly available as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tablets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capsules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Softgels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Combination vitamin D and K products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multivitamin and mineral supplements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>K2 supplements commonly contain MK-7 or MK-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because vitamin K is fat soluble, absorption occurs alongside dietary fat, although you do not need to construct an elaborate high-fat meal purely for your supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food First Still Makes Sense<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For most healthy adults, vitamin K is another nutrient where an ordinary varied diet can do a remarkably good job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leafy greens provide vitamin K1 alongside fibre, folate, carotenoids and numerous other nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Broccoli and Brussels sprouts contribute vitamin K alongside an entire collection of other useful compounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fermented foods can provide certain K2 forms while contributing other nutrients depending on the food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Supplements isolate one component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Food brings friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its role in normal blood coagulation is firmly established, and vitamin K-dependent proteins also participate in bone metabolism and other aspects of human physiology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K1 comes primarily from plant foods, especially leafy green vegetables, while vitamin K2 includes several menaquinones found in fermented and some animal foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research into K2 and bone or cardiovascular health is genuinely interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But interesting evidence is not the same as proof that every healthy adult needs a K2 supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is also no established evidence that routine vitamin K supplementation improves cognition, energy or athletic performance in people who already have adequate vitamin K status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most people, eating plenty of vegetables will provide a meaningful supply of vitamin K without much thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is one major exception to the casual approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Warfarin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you take warfarin or another vitamin K antagonist, do not suddenly eliminate leafy greens and do not suddenly start consuming huge quantities either. Keeping vitamin K intake reasonably consistent is usually far more important than trying to make your diet completely vitamin K-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And never start a vitamin K supplement without checking with the healthcare team managing your anticoagulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vitamin K may not have the celebrity status of vitamin D or vitamin C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It already has an essential job.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong> This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you take warfarin or another anticoagulant, have a bleeding disorder, have a condition affecting fat absorption, or are considering high-dose vitamin K supplementation, speak to a pharmacist, doctor, dietitian or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or supplements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vitamin K Explained: Blood Clotting, Bones, K1 vs K2 and What the Science Really Says Vitamin K has a slightly 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