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very year millions of people take calcium and vitamin D supplements thinking that they are helping improve the strength of their bones. The fact remains, however, that the body cannot direct calcium – the building block of the human skeleton – without the addition of vitamin K2. Nevertheless, we rarely hear about K2 and it is far less visible in the marketing efforts of supplement suppliers than, for example, vitamin D or vitamin C. While there are many vitamin supplements that


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bare bones


The supplements industry is booming and vitamins and minerals are widely accepted as a part of a healthy and balanced diet. For bone health, however, many people rely on calcium and vitamin D to help bone density and repair, unaware that without vitamin K2 these supplements could be wasted. Jim Banks speaks to Katarzyna Maresz, president of the International Science and Health Foundation, about why K2’s role in the body is so poorly understood.


undoubtedly benefit our health, the key role K2 plays in helping the body to absorb other nutrients should make headline news, and yet it rarely does. Vitamin K1 is relatively well known for the important part it plays in blood clotting, but K2 not only helps the body direct calcium to bones but it plays a key role in improving the health of the heart. In short, it helps bones grow strong, but also keeps our heart pumping and our blood vessels flowing smoothly.


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IIngredients Insight / www.ingredients-insight.com ngredients Insight / www.ingredients-insight.com


Tanya Jones/Shutterstock.com


anya Jones/Shutterstock.com


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