Vitamin K2 promotes artery flexibility and helps maintain healthy blood pressure. It’s found naturally in food, but there is widespread vitamin K2 deficiency in the U.S. That’s why BP Dove contains vitamin K2 to support healthy arteries and blood pressure. Now, even more research has stressed the importance of vitamin K for heart health.
Researchers found that people who eat a vitamin K-rich diet have a 34 percent lower risk of heart or blood vessel diseases. Vitamin K1 comes from leafy greens, and vitamin K2 comes from meat, eggs and fermented food. In the study, people who ate high amounts of vitamin K1 were 21 percent less likely to be hospitalized for heart diseases related to plaque build-up in their arteries than people who ate very little. People who consumed high amounts of vitamin K2 were 14 percent less likely to be hospitalized.
The lowered risk was true for all heart diseases related to plaque build-up, with the most significant difference for peripheral artery disease. High levels of vitamin K lowered the risk by 34 percent.
“Current dietary guidelines for the consumption of vitamin K are generally only based on the amount of vitamin K1 a person should consume to ensure that their blood can coagulate,” said Dr. Nicola Bondonno, Edith Cowan Univ. researcher and senior author on the study. “However, there is growing evidence that intakes of vitamin K above the current guidelines can afford further protection against the development of other diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Although more research is needed to fully understand the process, we believe that vitamin K works by protecting against the calcium build-up in the major arteries of the body leading to vascular calcification.”
We really appreciate when studies like these strengthen our understanding of how vitamins impact our bodies. Our bodies are such complicated systems, and sometimes we understand that something works without knowing the full extent. Having more research showing that there is a link between vitamin K and heart health is excellent.
Health starts with proper diet and exercise, and this underscores the importance of a varied diet. The different types of vitamin K come from wildly different foods. By eating an assortment of healthy foods, you can help yourself reach a healthy amount. That’s important as many of us are vitamin K deficient, even below the already low minimum. You should speak to your doctor about your vitamin K levels and find out what is right for you. Your doctor might have ideas for your diet, and if you’re reading this, you already know that BP Dove contains vitamin K2!
