Hello, I'm Monica Reinagel and this is the Nutrition Diva Podcast, a show where I take

a closer look at nutrition trends and headlines, explain what the latest research means for

you, and answer your nutrition questions.

Welcome.

Judy writes, can you discuss the importance of vitamin K2 in maintaining and building strong

bones as we age?

I've been taking 45 micrograms a day, but I've heard that we should be taking 45,000 micrograms

daily.

Well, that's not an insignificant difference, so I can certainly understand your confusion.

But before we get into the question of mega-dosing on vitamin K2, let's just back up and lay

some groundwork here.

Although vitamin K was identified in the 1920s, right around the same time as vitamin C and

vitamin E were discovered, it doesn't have anywhere near the name recognition that other

nutrients do.

It was first identified by German researchers who discovered that it was essential for proper

blood clotting, and the K actually stands for the German word coagulation or coagulation.

Without this nutrient in your system, you could bleed to death.

And then later, it was discovered that vitamin K also plays an important role in bone formation,

and that's something I talked about in episode number 25, that's way back in the archives,

on my episode on a diet for healthy bones.

It's also involved in heart health.

The Institute of Medicine has not yet established a recommended daily allowance for vitamin K,

...