Vitamin K1 vs. K2 — Understanding Their Distinct Roles in Your Health
Story at-a-glance
- Vitamin K1, found mainly in green leafy vegetables, is essential for blood clotting, while vitamin K2, produced by gut bacteria and present in fermented foods and animal products, significantly impacts bone and heart health
- Vitamin K2 is more effective than K1 in enhancing bone density and preventing arterial calcification, making it important for cardiovascular and skeletal health
- Conventional vitamin K tests, such as measuring prothrombin time — or how quickly your blood clots — mainly measure vitamin K1, overlooking K2’s important functions
- The bioavailability and absorption rates of vitamin K2 are higher than those of K1, allowing it to be more effective in tissues outside of your liver
- Vitamin K2, particularly in the MK-7 form, has a longer half-life, enabling sustained support for bone and cardiovascular health
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/02/26/vitamin-k1-vs-k2.aspx
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