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Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex and vascular calcification: is this the important link between vitamin K and the arterial vessel wall? Spronk HM. Circulation. 2006 Mar 28;113(12):1550-2. Review. PMID: 16567578

Zittermann A, Schleithoff SS, Koerfer R. \nVitamin D and vascular calcification.\nCurr Opin Lipidol. 2007 Feb;18(1):41-6. Review.\nPMID: 17218831 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification.\nBeulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, Bartelink ML, Prokop M, Geleijnse JM, Witteman JC, Grobbee DE, van der Schouw YT.\nAtherosclerosis. 2008 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]\nPMID: 18722618 \ndoi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.07.010 \n

Vitamin K in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and arterial calcification.\nAdams J, Pepping J.\nAm J Health Syst Pharm. 2005 Aug 1;62(15):1574-81. Review.\nPMID: 16030366

Vitamin K has been known as the coagulation vitamin, because of its role in the blood-clotting process. However, research over the last few decades has shown that the role of K Vitamins - and natural Vitamin K2, the menaquinones, in particular - has been greatly expanded. Of note, K Vitamins activity outside the liver is required for calcium utilization, the key factor in maintaining both bone and cardiovascular health.\n\nVitamin K2 helps to activate vitamin K-dependent proteins responsible for healthy tissues. In bone, it activates osteocalcin, a protein required to bind calcium to the mineral matrix, thus strengthening the skeleton. In circulation, Vitamin K2 participates in carboxylation of Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), the most potent inhibitor of arterial calcification known, lowering the risk of vascular damage.

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. The "K" is derived from the German word "koagulation." Coagulation refers to the process of blood clot formation. Vitamin K is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood clotting (1). There are two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K