Vitamin K2 - Bioavailability and mechanism of action

Vitamin K is a co-factor for activation of osteocalcin (cOC) ‘the calcium binding protein’. Inactive osteocalcin (ucOC) is a useful biomarker for vitamin status (low vitamin K; high ucOC).

Vitamin K2 also activates matrix Gla protein (cMGP) in cartilage and smooth muscle layer of the vessel and MGP prevents calcium from binding to the vessel wall (inactive MGP; ucMGP).