The time it takes for vitamin K2 to be metabolized in the body depends largely on its half-life. Vitamin K2 has a relatively long half-life, which can be as long as 72 hours. This means that it can remain biologically active in the body for a longer period of time.
Please note that the metabolism time of Vitamin K2 in the body may be affected by a number of factors, including individual differences, intake, dietary habits, and interactions with other substances. Therefore, the exact metabolism time may vary from person to person.
When we supplement through dietary means, vitamin K2 is not metabolized out of the body as quickly as vitamin K1, but is able to stay in the body for two or three days, fully functioning, and vitamin K2 is repeatedly distributed throughout the body’s circulation and is able to reach tissues in all parts of our body outside of the liver, such as the skeletal and vascular systems. Vitamin K2 (MK-7) therefore has health benefits throughout the body.
What factors affect how long it stays in the body?
First, the ability to absorb MK-7 may vary from body to body. This depends on factors such as the health of the intestinal tract, stomach acid levels, and the activity of digestive enzymes. If the intestinal tract is in good health, with normal gastric acid and digestive enzyme secretion, then MK-7 will be absorbed more efficiently and thus remain in the body for a relatively longer period of time.
Secondly, an individual’s metabolic rate also affects the retention time of MK-7. Individuals with a faster metabolic rate will consume the nutrient more quickly, and thus the retention time of MK-7 in the body may be relatively short. Conversely, people with slower metabolic rates may retain MK-7 for a relatively longer period of time.
In addition, dietary habits can also have an impact on the retention time of MK-7. If the diet is rich in fat, this aids in the absorption and utilization of MK-7. Because MK-7 is a fat-soluble vitamin, its bioavailability can be increased by consuming it with fat. Also, other nutrients in the diet may interact with MK-7 and affect its retention time.
Finally, health status is also an important factor in the retention time of MK-7. For example, the functional status of organs such as the liver and kidneys affects the metabolism and excretion of nutrients. If these organs are functioning normally, then the metabolism and excretion of MK-7 will also remain at a relatively stable level, thus maintaining its retention time in the body.
Vitamin K1 VS Vitamin K2
Vitamins K1 and K2 differ significantly in several ways:
- Chemical structure: Vitamins K1 and K2 differ in their side-chain structure, with K1 having a side-chain structure of n=3 and K2 having a side-chain structure of n=2. In addition, vitamin K1 usually appears as a yellow, oily liquid, while vitamin K2 has yellow crystals.
- Food Sources: Vitamin K1 is mainly found in plants, such as spinach and broccoli. On the other hand, the food sources of vitamin K2 are more diversified, it is mainly found in some high-fat foods, such as chicken, natto, butter, egg yolks, etc.
- Absorption efficiency: Since vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin K1 is relatively difficult to absorb in the form it exists in plants. In contrast, vitamin K2 is usually more efficiently absorbed due to its presence in high-fat foods.
- Physiological Functions: Although both vitamins K1 and K2 function to promote blood clotting, they differ in their specific roles in the body. In addition to preventing and treating vitamin K2 deficiencies, such as bleeding in newborns and ulcerative colitis, vitamin K2 prevents and even reverses some types of cardiovascular disease by eliminating excess calcium from the blood and has shown therapeutic effects in osteoporosis and vascular calcification. Vitamin K1, on the other hand, plays a role in the treatment of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
Why we love vitamin K2?
why is vitamin K2 so popular? The main reason why vitamin K2 is so popular is attributed to its multiple benefits in human health. Here are a few of the main reasons regarding the popularity of vitamin K2:
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- Bone Health Boost: Vitamin K2 helps to activate osteocalcin, which promotes calcium deposition in the bones, thereby increasing bone strength and preventing fractures. Vitamin K2 is especially important for maintaining bone health for specific populations such as middle-aged and elderly people and middle-aged women.
- Cardiovascular Health Protection: Vitamin K2 reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by activating matrix glutamate protein (MGP), which prevents calcium deposition in the blood vessel wall. This property makes vitamin K2 important in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
- Other Health Benefits: In addition to its positive effects on bone and cardiovascular health, vitamin K2 may also have beneficial effects on other health problems such as diabetes and kidney disease.
Final complementary about vitamin K2 dosage:
Also, according to research, the minimum amount of vitamin K2 required by the human body should be 45 micrograms or more per day. And a daily supplementation of 90 to 180 micrograms of vitamin K2 for adults is considered to be a safe and effective dosage range. For specific groups of people, such as adult men and women, the recommended daily intake is 70 mcg and 60 mcg, respectively, based on the recommendations of the Dietary Reference Intake of Nutrients for Chinese Residents.
