K for Kartilage? New health areas for vitamin K

Vitamin K has been linked to bone, heart, and even prostate health, but could joint health and cartilage be next on the horizon for the unKnown vitamin? Stephen Daniells talks to Prof Cees Vermeer from VitaK, about raising awareness on vitamin K, dietary intakes, and new applications.

Speaking at Vitafoods 2009 in Geneva about vitamin K, Prof Vermeer said that he could imagine vitamin K benefits extending beyond cardiovascular and bone health, to joint health.

“All diseases of the cartilage – I could imagine that these would benefit from vitamin K2.”

Awareness of vitamin K, from green vegetables, the fermented soy product natto, cheese, or supplements, is increasing, albeit from a very small base.

“In the Western world our problem is that almost the only source is cheese,” said Prof Vermeer. “Cheese is fat, animal fat, saturated fat, it is not so healthy. So [vitamin K] is combined with not so healthy food, and that is why I recommend people take curd… or take natto, and if you don’t like both, then take pills.”