VITAMIN K2 IS BEING DISCUSSED AS ACTING LIKE A HORMONE.
The reason for this is because K2 binds to an intranuclear receptor that results in the activation of many genes, which in turn affect many cellular responses. As we know, hormones are cellular messengers, thus if K2 has been shown to act similarly.
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The most abundant food sources of vitamin K2 are actually pretty hard to find in today’s modern diet. They’re typically found in organ meats like liver, eggs, minced beef and fermented foods like dairy, but if animals are grain or soy fed, they do not get the K1 from grass to then convert to K2, directly impacting us.
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The notable task that vitamin K2 helps with is the absorption of calcium in the digestive tract and directs calcium to the necessary tissues, such as bones and teeth, helping with the avoidance of accumulation of calcium in the arteries. If calcium isn’t being ushered to where it is supposed to go, it can impact thyroid function and bind to iodine receptors, blocking our cells from absorbing thyroid hormone.
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Conversely, K2 has also been shown to decrease levels of parathyroid hormone, which is good because high levels can suppress thyroid function.
Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that proper thyroid function is essential for adequate progesterone production and supportive to ovulation. If our thyroid isn’t functioning optimally and one is in a hypothyroid state, estrogen cannot be readily detoxified. If estrogen accumulates in the tissues, this can cease us into a hypothyroid/estrogen dominant state because excess estrogen suppresses thyroid.
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Ironically, K2 has been shown to be helpful in reducing estrogen levels as well.
With that being noted about the reduction of estrogen, this also plays a role in reducing serotonin and increasing dopamine. Serotonin acts similarly to estrogen in the body, reducing thyroid function, impairing glucose metabolism and inhibiting ATP production. K2 downregulates an overproduction of serotonin, improving insulin sensitivity and has also been shown to act as a quinone (like CoQ10) helping reduce nitric oxide, supporting mitochondrial oxygen consumption and restoring metabolism.