In humans, the main mechanistic role of vitamin K is in the γ-carboxylation of proteins called vitamin-K-dependent proteins. Several vitamin-K-dependent proteins have been identified, and they are primarily involved in the regulation of blood coagulation, vascular function, and bone metabolism.[1][2][3][4]
Supplementation with vitamin K can improve markers of bone health.[5][6][7] Evidence from animal studies and cell-culture studies shows that vitamin K can promote processes involved in bone formation (e.g., osteoblast differentiation and the carboxylation of osteocalcin), suppress processes involved in bone breakdown (e.g., osteoclast formation), and increase the concentration of enzymes (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) and growth factors (IGF-1, GDF-15, etc.) involved in bone formation.[8][9][10]