Supplements & functional ingredients 1 in 5 NCBI
Worldwide, the number of men over 50 that are expected to experience an osteoporotic fracture.
phase. Initially, the collagenous bone surface is removed, and the lining cells are retracted. During resorption, osteoclasts cleave the bone, leading to lacunae forming; after which they undergo apoptosis. In the early formation phase, the osteoblasts produce the bone matrix, which is mineralised in the late formation phase with the longest phase lasting two months or more. Osteoporosis is one metabolic bone disease where the bones weaken and are at increased risk of fracture. It is common in the UK and is estimated to cause 536,000 fractures. Worldwide, it is believed that one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 years are expected to experience an osteoporotic fracture. Research into osteoporosis on female patients showed a significant increase in the BMD of the test subjects who were supplemented with vitamin K2. This correlated with an increase in osteogenic activity, therefore providing evidence that the risk of osteoporotic fracture can be reduced through nutritional supplements, specifically vitamin K2. Another function of calcium that remains under further study is its metabolism in the testes. Calcium ions aid in the development and activation of spermatozoa in the testes as they develop, with studies showing that vitamin D deficiency can cause reduced sperm motility. The lack of vitamin D results in decreased quantities of serum ionised calcium levels, as well as reduced Ca2+ in the seminal fluid.
“Vitamin K2 has now established a compelling platform within the scientific community as a compound that expresses beneficial properties that can be utilised in the medical field.”
The rise of K2 Vitamin K2 has now established a compelling platform within the scientific community as a compound that expresses properties that can be utilised in the medical field. Currently, the mainstay of research has been focused on its effects on bone metabolism as this was where research began. There have been many studies that have concluded that a significant increase in the serum levels of OC in osteoporotic subjects. When healthy subjects were given the same dosage of vitamin K2, there was still a significant rise in the OC serum level; however, this did not in turn cause a significant reduction in the incidence of fracture, as found in studies on osteoporotic patients.
Specifically reviewing the effects of vitamin K2 on BMD, the overall consensus was that there is an initial increase in BMD, whether it be in the hip or
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the femur; however, after long-term daily administration, this returned to baseline. It is possible that vitamin K2 can only benefit the BMD of those with pathological bone conditions, including osteoporosism – showing that there is in fact is a reduction in the incidence of fractures, but only at mild levels of osteoporosis. Vitamin D has displayed a clear role in both stimulating the production of VKDPs and aiding vitamin K2 to carboxylate said proteins. Studies have shown that when given in combination, they exhibit a synergistic effect on bone metabolism, sperm maturation, bile synthesis, and vascular calcification. However, the studies currently available are sparce; therefore, further investigation into these areas is required. The presence of high levels of mRNA for GGCX and MGP in the testes indicates that vitamin K2 could have unknown effects on the body; this ought to be investigated further to confirm the conclusions of existing studies.
The need for continued research Vitamin K2 possesses the ability to prevent and reverse vascular calcification. If the trials were reproduced on a human sample, it could allow for radical changes in the current treatment of cardiovascular disease. In conjunction with other anti-platelets and blood-thinning medication, the use of vitamin K2 to prevent vascular calcification needs to be further investigated to confirm whether it is beneficial and what dosages are required to produce these effects. To date, the dosage of vitamin K2 varies across different countries, with Japan recommending 150µg to its population. Many studies showed that the effects of vitamin K2 increased in a dose-dependent manner; thus, the question remains which dosage will correlate to the maximal effect while avoiding overcompensation. MK-7 is known to be of greater benefit than MK-4 due to its longer half-life; therefore, finding the optimal dosage of MK-7 to induce beneficial effects in the body would prove insightful.
In the past two decades, the research on the topic of vitamin K2 has developed remarkably. Vitamin K2 has proved to directly benefit osteoporotic patients, primarily through an increase in the -carboxylation of VKDPs, such as MGP and GGCX, and enzymes such as ALP, which are associated with bone mineralisation, sperm maturation, vascular calcification and bile acid synthesis, among other processes. To establish the direct effect of vitamin K2 in healthy individuals, and ascertain whether it can be used as treatment in patients exhibiting pathologies – such as diabetes, osteoporosis, cerebral palsy and parathyroid disorders – will require careful and ongoing research. What’s clear is that, thus far, the results look hopeful. ●
Ingredients Insight /
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