Vitamin K Prevents Arterial Plaque and Slows Cognitive Decline

Vitamin K is a critical nutrientwidely known for its ability to promote normal blood clotting. A wealth of new informationdemonstrates that this vitamin in its multiple forms can provide a powerfulanti-inflammatory shield to protect against many lethal diseases of aging. Writingin theJournal of Nutrition, researchersshow that vitamin K works with other fat-soluble nutrients to protect the brainfrom arterial calcification that leads to a stroke or cognitive decline.

Vitamin K works to prevent thedeposition of calcium within arterial walls and ushers the mineral toward thenormal construction of bone throughout the body. The research provides proofthat eating a healthy diet to maintain adequate stores of vitamin K over alifetime can help prevent arterial hardening, atherosclerosis and cognitivedecline.

Vitamin K Slows Cognitive Decline by Supporting Brain Health

To determine the effect ofvitamin K on cognitivefunction, researchers studied three groups of mice that were broken into a low,adequate, or high level of vitamin K supplemented in their diet over the courseof their lifetime. Vitamin K is a fat soluble nutrient that can easily crossthe blood-brain barrier to provide antioxidant support to a critical organ composedprimarily of omega-3 fats. 

Researchers found that vitamin K playsan important role in “maintaining thewhite matter region of the brain by supporting the myelin sheathing thatprotects axons, connecting glial cells together with axons, and facilitatingthe speed at which your brain functions.” Animals with the lowestsupplemental vitamin K levels displayed the highest degree of cognitive declineas they grew older, compared with the highest vitamin K group.

Vitamin K2 Inhibits Coronary Artery Calcification to Halt Heart Disease

Scientists publishing in the journalAtherosclerosis determined the effectof vitamin K on 564 post-menopausal women. The study was designed to contrastdietary intake of both the phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinone (vitaminK2) with coronary artery calcification (atherosclerosis or hardening of thearteries). Researchers found that the K2 form of vitamin K was associated witha significant decrease in coronary artery calcification, while vitamin K1 didnot appear to impact disease progression.

Dark green leafy vegetablesprovide a healthy dose of vitamin K1 but are not a significant source ofvitamin K2, the form shown to yield protection against arterial hardening anddementia. Fermented foods such as natto, egg yolks and certain cheeses providehigh levels of K2, although many people may choose to avoid these foods. Health-mindedindividuals will need to supplement with a quality supplement providing thefull range of vitamin K isomers (1000 - 2000 mcg per day) to avertatherosclerosis and cognitive function decline.

Vitamin K Protects Against Arterial Calcification, Cancer and Premature Aging

Few people realize the essential role that Vitamin K plays to prevent and reverse coronary artery calcification. This powerful nutrient has been shown to be the missing link in the development of a natural solution to keep calcium from depositing as deadly plaque in arterial walls.

Further evidence exists to confirm the role of Vitamin K in promoting programmed cell death in cancer cells that have multiplied out of control. Most people ingest insufficient quantities of this critical vitamin from their diet to receive any therapeutic benefit. Fortunately Vitamin K intake can be corrected by adding leafy green vegetables to your diet and supplementing as necessary.

Calcium Transforms to Arterial Plaque

Calcium is an essential mineral that is used to fuel hundreds of biochemical processes in our body and it is critical to rebuild our bones and teeth. The problem with calcium arises when the mineral remains in our blood and isn’t properly laid down to form new bone. As a consequence of poor diet and increasing blood pressure, micro cracks develop on the inner lining of our coronary arteries. In an attempt to repair the damage, oxidized LDL cholesterol attracts circulating calcium and other debris that becomes the deadly substance called plaque.

Vitamin K Controls Calcium, Reverses Coronary Plaque

Research has shown that Vitamin K escorts calcium out of the blood so it can be used to build bone and teeth. When insufficient Vitamin K is found to be circulating in the blood, calcium is picked up by soft tissue throughout the body. This is especially evident in the delicate endothelial lining of the arteries surrounding the heart. Tissue calcifies and normal function declines as cells begin to age at an accelerated rate. This eventually results in atherosclerosis and increased risk of a heart attack.

The result of a study published in the journal Atherosclerosis demonstrates that biologically active Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) can reverse the buildup of deadly plaque. The study concludes that K2 `is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate menaquinone intakes could therefore be important to prevent cardiovascular disease.` The K2 form of the vitamin is found in fermented soy products such as natto. Many people will need to supplement to achieve optimal levels of the vitamin.

Vitamin K Destroys Cancer Cells

Researchers are actively reviewing evidence that suggests that Vitamin K2 can be a powerful ally in preventing and even treating certain cancer cell lines. K2 has been shown to cause leukemia cells to self destruct in a process known as apoptosis. This is a natural cellular function that cancer cells can disable so they can grow unimpeded. Additional studies have shown similar inhibitory effects against myeloma and lymphoma cancer lines.

Vitamin K has also proven effective in lowering the risk from liver cancer. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, individuals at high risk for viral induced liver cancer were supplemented with Vitamin K2 and compared with a group that did not receive the nutrient. Less than 10% of the people receiving K2 developed liver cancer. 47% of those in the control group developed the devastating disease.

Vitamin K deficiency is rampant due to poor diet and insufficient knowledge about its many health benefits. Similar to Vitamin D, humans have evolved to utilize Vitamin K to prevent atherosclerosis and certain types of cancer. Research is beginning to uncover many essential benefits associated with this critical nutrient that we can use to control disease and slow the process of aging.

Vitamin K Protects Against Cancer and Heart Disease

(Article first published as Vitamin K Necessary to Stop Cancer in its Tracks on Technorati.)

The second leading cause of death in the US is a preventable disease caused by a damaging diet of processed foods and poor lifestyle choices. Many people view cancer as inevitable having seen family members and friends succumb to the disease and believe there is little they can do to protect themselves from the `Big C`.

Our body is continually under assault from rogue cancer cells that are detected and controlled by our innate immune system. Eventually a diet of sugary processed foods and regular contact with household toxins wear down our natural defenses allowing cancer to proliferate. Vitamin K is a critical nutrient that has been shown effective in preventing a number of cancer cell lines with no toxic side effects.

Typical Diet is Grossly Deficient in Vitamin K

Since its discovery nearly 80 years ago, Vitamin K has been viewed merely as a nutrient necessary for proper blood coagulation. Research over the past decade has shown that this vitamin is essential to many functions necessary to promote ideal health.

Vitamin K1 is the most common form of the vitamin found in fresh vegetables such as broccoli and leafy greens. K1 must be converted to K2 in the intestines to be available for use by our cells. K2 is only found in naturally produced cheeses and natto. Since most diets are deficient in vegetables, very little is available for conversion to the active type shown effective in cancer prevention.

Study Confirms Cancer Fighting Power of Vitamin K

Small quantities of vitamin K are required for normal blood clotting. New research is emerging to confirm the amazing cancer prevention and treatment benefits associated with larger doses of this super nutrient. The results of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that those individuals with the highest intakes of vitamin K2 had the lowest risk of developing cancer and a 30% reduction in cancer mortality. Due to poor availability in the diet, most people will need to supplement with K2 to achieve full benefit.

Ensure You Have Sufficient Vitamin K2 to Lower Heart Disease Risk

Experts warn that nearly 100% of those tested have low Vitamin K levels circulating in their blood. In addition to the cancer fighting ability associated with the vitamin, research has shown that K2 lowers the risk of heart disease and heart attack as it helps clear plaque-forming calcium from the blood. Millions of people are at increased risk of cancer as well as cardiovascular disease. 

Eating plenty of raw vegetables and greens will ensure you have plenty of vitamin K1 that`s needed to form clots. K1 can be converted to K2 by bacteria in the digestive tract, although this process is inefficient and doesn`t reliably increase blood saturation. Pre-formed K2 is found naturally in only a handful of foods such as cheese curd and fermented natto. Many people find these foods difficult to tolerate and need to take an inexpensive supplement with food to attain optimal health benefits.

Researchers note that vitamin K and vitamin D work synergistically to promote health and prevent disease. Both nutrients work together to increase the production of a protein (Matrix GLA Protein) that helps protect blood vessels from calcification. Therefore it`s important to obtain both vitamins through diet, sun exposure or supplementation and dramatically lower your risk of cancer and heart disease.