| Vitamin K's benefits may not be widely-known, but | | | | By regulating the amount and distribution of calcium in |
| it's one of the most important anti-aging therapies. | | | | the body, ample amounts of Vitamin K could |
| Since it's discovery in 1929, Vitamin K has been | | | | potentially act as both a preventative and a healer. |
| recognized as being crucial to the process of blood | | | | |
| coagulation - in fact, the "k" stands for koagulation, | | | | Vitamin K and Diabetes: Japanese studies have |
| the German form of the word coagulation. But recent | | | | demonstrated that animals with a measurable vitamin |
| research has shown that this often-forgotten vitamin | | | | K deficiency had pancreatic problems that caused the |
| may be a vital tool in the prevention and treatment | | | | release of too much insulin into the blood - a scenario |
| of a host of age-related disorders. | | | | similar to that of diabetes in humans. Ongoing studies |
| Research Reveals That Vitamin K Plays Many Roles in | | | | are investigating the possibility that vitamin K could |
| Maintaining Health | | | | be used to in the treatment of diabetes. |
| One of the most important discoveries about vitamin | | | | Vitamin K and Alzheimer's Disease: Research has |
| K is that it regulates the production and flow of | | | | indicated that there is a correlation between vitamin |
| calcium. This ability makes it a key player in the | | | | K deficiency and the presence of a specific genetic |
| prevention and treatment of many of the most | | | | variant associated with Alzheimer's. It has been |
| common and debilitating age-related diseases. | | | | suggested that without sufficient vitamin K to |
| Vitamin K and Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a | | | | regulate the creation and flow of calcium throughout |
| degenerative bone disease that occurs when calcium | | | | the system, arterial damage may lead to problems |
| is leached from the bones. Recent studies have | | | | with brain function. |
| shown that people who had the highest vitamin K | | | | Who Needs Supplemental Vitamin K?The body can |
| levels had a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis | | | | actually manufacture vitamin K, but because we |
| and related problems such as hip fracture. | | | | generally synthesize only a third of the amount that |
| Vitamin K and Arteriosclerosis: Arteriosclerosis, or | | | | we need, it's important to eat foods that contain it |
| hardening of the arteries, is a progressive disease | | | | (leafy green vegetables and liver) to avoid deficiency. |
| caused by arterial calcification, which happens when | | | | The recommended daily requirement for adults is |
| calcium leaks into the arteries. This process is closely | | | | around 100 mg, an amount that should easily be met |
| linked to heart damage and disease. Animal studies | | | | via a reasonable healthy diet. However, there are |
| done in Japan showed that the introduction of | | | | some circumstances in which additional vitamin K |
| additional Vitamin K effectively reduced arterial | | | | could be needed. Liver and gall bladder disease are |
| calcification, and it reduced related heart damage as | | | | known to deplete vitamin K, as are diseases of the |
| well. | | | | intestinal tract. Some medicines, including long-term |
| Vitamin K and High Blood Pressure/Stroke: Excess | | | | antibiotics and cholesterol lowering drugs can also |
| calcium has been identified as a major causative | | | | cause deficiency. |
| source of high blood pressure and resulting strokes. | | | | |