Research from the University of California, Berkeley has unveiled a sobering biological reality: your body prioritises vitamin K for blood clotting over bone and arterial health. This phenomenon, formalised as the “triage theory” of micronutrient allocation, explains a critical gap in current nutritional guidelines.
At recommended daily intakes of 90 mcg for women and 120 mcg for men, the liver secures sufficient vitamin K to maintain coagulation factors. However, extrahepatic tissues—bone, arteries, and other organs—receive only partial activation of their vitamin K-dependent proteins. This means approximately 30% of osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein remain undercarboxylated in otherwise healthy adults.
The implications are significant: current dietary guidelines may prevent clinical clotting disorders but fall short of supporting optimal skeletal and cardiovascular mineralisation. Researchers suggest optimal extrahepatic activation requires intakes exceeding 1 mg/day of K1 or approximately 200 mcg/day of MK-7—far beyond present recommendations.
Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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