Basically, vitamin K plays an important role without clots. Vitamin K is also an important factor in bone metabolism. Now a research team has succeeded another important function of vitamin K to prove and at the same time a so far unknown enzyme to identify.
In diseases associated with a specific form of natural cell death Relatedly, this discovery could open up new therapy options.
How does vitamin K work in the body? It’s in these foods
die The vitamins A, D and E are very likely for you fat-soluble vitamins it was nonetheless, this is often forgotten Vitamin K. The theme Vitamin K includes a compound group, including the Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and that Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) belongs to. For the sake of completeness let it be Vitamin K3 (Menadione), which is only synthetic product and is currently only used as an additive in animal feed.
Vitamin K1 – important for blood and vessels: They are particularly rich in vitamin K1 green vegetables how Spinach, broccoli or kale. Here even small amounts up to 100 grams are enough to provide the body with enough nutrients. Among the most important works of Vitamin K1 belonging to Coagulation factor formation from inactive precursors. In a Vitamin K deficiency In the case of an injury, the blood cannot clot as well and the bleeding stops more slowly. In addition, it prevents Calcium deposits in blood vessels and thus protect against arteriosclerosis.
Vitamin K2 – important for bone metabolism: Although our intestinal bacteria in the large intestine can produce vitamin K2, it is only insufficiently absorbed by the body. Vitamin K2 is mainly found in animal food source as in dairy products, meat and eggs or in fermented foods how sauerkraut or mire Cheese. Vitamin K2 important for the skeleton and work support the maintenance of bone density and bone remodeling, by promoting regulation, active transport and distribution of calcium. Vitamin K2 is particularly easily available to the body in its menaquinone-7 or MK-7-Form. It is often found in dietary supplements combination with Vitamin Dyes both together support more efficient bone metabolism.
Why has vitamin K become the subject of scientific research?
A healthy person dies every second million cells away What sounds dramatic at first is, nonetheless, important for a healthy organism. Because with what is called programmed cell death, which is medically known as Apoptosis they call, body cells commit suicide, so to speak, when life is over have or dangerous they are They disintegrate and new functional cells take their place. In the case of malignant tumor cells, this programmed cell death is desirable because it prevents uncontrolled growth. nonetheless, there are diseases in which premature or increased apoptosis can lead to worsening of symptoms.
In what is called ferroptosis It is a form of cell death that was only found out in 2012 and is involved in various disease-promoting processes. Here, the cell membrane of a cell is destroyed by certain processes. Eisen play an important role here, which is why this form of natural cell death is called ferroptosis, because the Latin word “ferrum” means iron. It is called ferroptosis accelerating factor described in Alzheimer’s disease, acute organ injury and other diseases. So reducing ferroptosis is considered a hopeful approach to therapy by many degenerative diseasewhere wear and tear and aging play a role.
Scientists are now intensively researching new mechanisms and active substances that regulate ferroptosis. An international investigation team is now investigating Vitamin K as a way to prevent ferroptosis.
Do the study results enable new therapeutic approaches?
The researchers came to the conclusion that vitamin K in its completely reduced form as Vitamin K-Hydroquinone could protect cells and tissues from ferroptosis. The effect occurs because vitamin K here acts as a powerful fat-loving (lipophilic) antioxidant and prevents ferroptosis by eliminating oxygen radicals from cell membranes. Antioxidants represent a group of molecules that protect the organism reactive oxygen radicals protect If there is an imbalance between free oxygen radicals and free radical scavengers (antioxidants) in the body, this is it Oxidative stress designated If a high concentration of free oxygen radicals persists for a longer period of time, this increases risk of diseasewhich affects the immune system, but also for rheumatic or nervous diseases. Here, vitamin K fulfills the function of a radical scavenger, which Traps oxygen radicals in cell membranes and thereby prevent ferroptosis.
Scientists have also found out enzymes that effectively reduce vitamin K to vitamin K hydroquinone. This is FSP1 or Ferroptosis Suppressor Protein-1. That came through mechanism previously unknown in vitamin K metabolism in blood coagulation.
These discoveries may help new therapy for diseases involving ferroptosis. Researchers also suspect that vitamin K is one of the oldest types of naturally occurring antioxidants could act and ferroptosis is also a very old form of cell death. This could lead to new insights The importance of vitamin K in the evolution of life results.
Conclusion
so far has been Vitamin K known as a vitamin with important functions without clots and in bone metabolism take over The newly found out function of vitamin K seems to be able to open a new therapy option for people suffering from certain diseases. degenerative disease suffer Another reason to enrich your diet with foods containing vitamin K, because the versatile vital substance must be provided in food.