We all must have heard the importance of calcium in maintaining strong & healthy bones. Besides this, the role of vitamin D can also be not neglected as it is essential too. This is the reason why experts always say to consume a diet rich in calcium & vitamin D in order to produce healthy bones. But you might be surprised to know that vitamin K is also important for maintaining strong & healthy bones and this is what we are going to discuss in this post. Strong bones are very important as they provide a proper structure to our body and help us perform tasks like lifting weight, running, walking properly, bending, sports-related movements, and many more. If bones are weak, all these movements will also get affected and the chances of fractures and diseases like osteoporosis will also increase. The fractures in weak bones tend to be serious sometimes and they might require the use of trauma implants like Hand Plating system, Cannulated Screws for Hip Fracture, etc. for the fixation.
The Role of Vitamin K in Producing Healthy Bones
The role of vitamin K in improving bone density is considered very important, and that has been confirmed by many studies performed by scientists across the globe. Not only this, but this vitamin also plays a vital role in reducing the risk of fracture.
Vitamin K is known to activate the protein responsible for bone formation and mineralization of bones. Mineralization is a process that helps make bones strong.
There are two forms of vitamin K, namely K1 and K2.
Vitamin K1
K1 is most commonly found in green leafy and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. When compared to K2, K1 has less impact in maintaining bone health but it is important.
Vitamin K2
K2 is produced by bacteria and the most common sources of this vitamin are dairy products, fermented foods, poultry, and pork. K2 has a more significant effect in producing healthy bones but the deficiency of both K1 and K2 negatively affects bone health.
How Lack of Vitamin K Hurts Bone Health?
We’re sure that till now, it must have been clear to you that how important vitamin K is for our bone health, and ignoring it could be harmful. In this section, we will see how vitamin K deficiency is harmful.
Studies have found that consumption of fewer than 109 micrograms of vitamin K per day has shown to increase the risk of hip fracture in women. While on the other hand, it is also noticed that men who consume less vitamin K per day than the permissible limit are also prone to getting a fracture in the hip. Plus, a direct correlation between the low dietary vitamin K intake and low bone density is also seen in women.
The normal daily intake of vitamin K in men is 120 micrograms and in women, it is 90 micrograms. Very low levels of vitamin K are also associated with blood clotting.
Are Vitamin K Supplements Safe?
Though vitamin K supplements are reported to be safe, yet there is no conclusive evidence regarding they help in improving bone mineral density. Several studies have found that people taking vitamin K supplements have improved bone mineral density whereas, some studies have shown no effect of these supplements. Even US FDA has not authorized any health claim regarding vitamin K supplements.
To become a distributor of international standard quality orthopedic devices used to fix fractures and other bone-related conditions, contact Siora Surgicals. The company not only manufactures trauma implants in India but is also a reliable exporter of orthopedic devices in Poland.