How does vitamin K work?

    Last Updated: August 8, 2024

    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]

    References

    1. ^Mladěnka P, Macáková K, Kujovská Krčmová L, Javorská L, Mrštná K, Carazo A, Protti M, Remião F, Nováková L, OEMONOM researchers and collaboratorsVitamin K - sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, detection, therapeutic use, and toxicity.Nutr Rev.(2022 Mar 10)
    2. ^Dowd P, Ham SW, Naganathan S, Hershline RThe mechanism of action of vitamin K.Annu Rev Nutr.(1995)
    3. ^Shearer MJ, Newman PMetabolism and cell biology of vitamin KThromb Haemost.(2008 Oct)
    4. ^Shearer MJ, Okano TKey Pathways and Regulators of Vitamin K Function and Intermediary Metabolism.Annu Rev Nutr.(2018 Aug 21)
    5. ^Fang Y, Hu C, Tao X, Wan Y, Tao FEffect of vitamin K on bone mineral density: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsJ Bone Miner Metab.(2012 Jan)
    6. ^Mott A, Bradley T, Wright K, Cockayne ES, Shearer MJ, Adamson J, Lanham-New SA, Torgerson DJEffect of vitamin K on bone mineral density and fractures in adults: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Osteoporos Int.(2019-Aug)
    7. ^Salma, Ahmad SS, Karim S, Ibrahim IM, Alkreathy HM, Alsieni M, Khan MAEffect of Vitamin K on Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Risk in Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Biomedicines.(2022 May 1)
    8. ^Villa JKD, Diaz MAN, Pizziolo VR, Martino HSDEffect of vitamin K in bone metabolism and vascular calcification: A review of mechanisms of action and evidences.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2017 Dec 12)
    9. ^Vermeer C, Jie KS, Knapen MHRole of vitamin K in bone metabolism.Annu Rev Nutr.(1995)
    10. ^Alonso N, Meinitzer A, Fritz-Petrin E, Enko D, Herrmann MRole of Vitamin K in Bone and Muscle Metabolism.Calcif Tissue Int.(2023 Feb)