In this blog post, we will look at the effects of vitamin K on blood clotting and its role in preventing vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease.
Blood supplies cells with necessary substances and removes waste products. Through this important role, it helps maintain life. If the blood vessel wall is damaged and bleeding occurs, the blood in the damaged area must be coagulated to prevent blood loss. Blood coagulation is a phenomenon in which a fibrin net formed by the aggregation of fibrin, a fibrous protein, clumps together with a platelet plug formed by the aggregation of platelets to form a clot. Blood clotting also occurs inside blood vessels, and the blood clot formed at this time is called a thrombus. When foreign substances accumulate and thicken the inner walls of arteries, a condition called arteriosclerosis occurs, which can lead to blood clots and reduced blood flow in the affected area, causing vascular disease. Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting and smooth circulation.
Vitamin K helps blood to clot. It was discovered that chicks fed a diet lacking in fat were deficient in a substance that dissolves in fat, causing delayed blood clotting, and this substance was named vitamin K. Blood clotting occurs through a chain reaction involving various protein factors. First, several blood clotting factors are activated, then prothrombin is activated and converted to thrombin, which converts fibrinogen dissolved in the blood into insoluble fibrin. Vitamin K is involved in the activation of prothrombin and other blood clotting factors when they are synthesized in liver cells. Activation occurs through binding with calcium ions, and these blood proteins must be carboxylated in order to bind with calcium ions. Carboxylation refers to the conversion of glutamic acid, one of the amino acids that make up proteins, to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. Target proteins that require carboxylation by vitamin K for activation are called vitamin K-dependent proteins.
Vitamin K is divided into vitamin K1, which is synthesized in plants, and vitamin K2, which is synthesized in animal cells or produced by microbial fermentation. Green vegetables contain sufficient amounts of vitamin K1, so following a normal diet will prevent blood clotting problems. The important functions of vitamin K are not limited to blood clotting. Recent studies have shown that vitamin K has anti-inflammatory properties, which may have a positive effect on cardiovascular health. The anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin K may help inhibit the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Another important function of vitamin K related to vascular health has been discovered, which is also related to the calcium paradox. As we age, the calcium density of bone tissue decreases, making us more susceptible to osteoporosis. Calcium supplements are taken to prevent this. However, although calcium supplements increase the concentration of calcium in the blood, they do not increase bone density. Instead, they cause vascular calcification, in which calcium salts are deposited in the blood vessel walls, leading to arteriosclerosis and vascular disease. Vascular calcification is inhibited by a protein called MGP produced in vascular muscle cells, which is a vitamin K-dependent protein. A lack of vitamin K prevents the activation of MGP protein, leading to vascular calcification.
Both vitamin K1 and K2 induce the activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins, but K1 is highly active in liver cells, while K2 is highly active in other cells. Therefore, K1 is mainly responsible for the activation of blood coagulation factors, while K2 is mainly responsible for the activation of proteins synthesized in other cells. Accordingly, some researchers recommend that the recommended intake of vitamin K be divided into K1 and K2, and that the intake of animal products such as cheese and butter, which contain K2, and fermented foods be increased. Recent studies have also shown that vitamin K2 is particularly effective in preventing arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This emphasizes the important role vitamin K2 plays in preventing calcium deposits in blood vessels.
Therefore, adequate intake of vitamin K is very important for maintaining good health. It is recommended to regularly consume green vegetables rich in vitamin K and supplement vitamin K2 from fermented foods and certain animal products. This will help maintain not only blood clotting but also overall vascular health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
