The role of Vitamin K-2 in osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease prevention

Osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases present similar etiopathogenic mechanisms. The presence of a "bone-vascular cross talk" is pointed out by several studies. This altered balance is due to an association between increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease and bone fractures related to osteoporosis. Recent researches revealed that vitamin K-2 deficiency could be responsible of a disrupted calcium regulation and that low levels of this vitamin are connected with an enhanced risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis, because of a lack of calcium in bones and an excessive storage of calcium in arteries.