At a Glance
- K2 can only be found in fermented soy products on a vegan diet.
- We can create K2 from K1 (found in vegetables), but often not enough for optimal health.
- K2 has several roles, including proper deposition of calcium for healthy bones and organs.
What is the role of K2 and can vegans find it on a plant based diet
Vitamin K comes in two forms, K1, which is commonly found in vegetables, and K2, which can only reliably be found in natto (a strong smelling fermented soy product) on a vegan diet.
Whilst our gut can convert K1 into K2, this can be impaired due to genetic differences, antbiotics, various health issues, genetic issues, medications, and lack of K1. Even in healthy populations, supplementation with K2 has been shown to have various health benefits so a healthy boost for vegans should be especially beneficial.
Simultaneously, oral vitamin K2 supplementation has no known toxicology, and no upper limit has been set for supplementation.1
Whilst K1 tends to be involved in blood coagulation, K2 tends to be involved in calcium deposition, with particular importance in the blood vessels, brain and kidneys. It helps stop us from getting kidney stones and encourages healthy bone formation.2
Vitamin D encourages absorption of calcium, and is therefore often supplemented alongside K2 to encourage this calcium to deposit on bones rather than blood vessels. Our formula supplies these both together with calcium for optimum effect.
Studies indicate K2 improves insulin sensitivity3, helps prevent prostate cancer4, improves survival in patients with liver cancer5, and may reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease6. Japanese women who eat a lot of Natto have been shown to maintain bone density better than those who do not eat it.7
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222310/
(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8785182/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3161300/
(4) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18400723/
(5) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16400650/