Dr. Jan O. Gordeladze on Vitamin K2 - The Topic of our Recently Published Book

Over the past few years, Vitamin K2 has been getting a lot more attention. The nutrient that was initially only recognized as a factor required for coagulation, is being found to be much more complex and might be linked to health benefits that researchers are only now beginning to explore and further discover.

Our newly published book Vitamin K2 - Vital for Health and Wellbeing explores the impact of vitamin K2 on cellular functions and organ systems.

We had a chance to talk a bit about the research with the book’s editor Dr. Jan O. Gordeladze, University of Oslo, Norway, and ask him why research regarding this vitamin is important:

“Vitamin K2 is a small molecule, acting as a hormone, very much like vitamins D and A. Vitamin K2’s two active forms (menaquinones MK-4 and MK-7) bind to protein receptors in the cells’ nuclei, combining with similar receptors, holding on to either vitamins D or A, thus enabling the cell to perform the tasks of a plethora of specialized cell types. Among those are the blockage of inflammation, building of cartilage and bone, decalcification of blood vessels and heart valves, turning white fat into healthier beige fat, stimulating insulin secretion with enhanced glucose handling, up-regulating fat turnover, fighting several forms of cancer, as well as alleviating the detrimental impact of several pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity and the gut. Interestingly, vitamin K2 also functions as a booster on neurons, via the hypothalamus and pituitary of the brain, stalling the development of progeria (early development of “old age”), serving as an important factor stimulating so-called proper inter-organ “cross-talk,” yielding a balanced and homeostatic inter-organ functioning.” Dr. Gordeladze went on to say:

I enjoyed serving as the editor and one of the many authors of the IntechOpen book on vitamin K2 and am happy, on behalf of the scientific community, to convey our humble awe for this little molecule, in terms of health benefits to be gained from it.

While the K2 molecule might be small, its seems that its true potential is only now being realized and further research is definitely worthwhile considering the multitude of possible health benefits.

In cooperation with Kappa Bioscience, print copies of chapters from the book will be exclusively presented at Vitafoods Europe, a leading event for the nutraceutical industry. Held May 9th - 11th, 2017 at Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland, Vitafoods Europe is an annual global exhibition and conference with 1,000 exhibitors and over 18,500 visitors. The event will provide great exposure for IntechOpen's contributor's and their research. Stop by Booth D10 to pick up an offprint and learn more about Vitamin K2! 

About the Book

This book serves as a comprehensive survey of the impact of vitamin K2 on cellular functions and organ systems, indicating that vitamin K2 plays an important role in the differentiation/preservation of various cell phenotypes and as a stimulator and/or mediator of interorgan crosstalk. Vitamin K2 binds to the transcription factor SXR/PXR, thus acting like a hormone (very much in the same manner as vitamin A and vitamin D). Therefore, vitamin K2 affects a multitude of organ systems, and is suspected to be one positive factor in bringing about "longevity" to the human body, e.g., supporting the functions/health of different organ systems, as well as correcting the functioning or even "curing" ailments striking several organs in our body. The book contains 17 chapters with some of the most relevant and up to date research on vitamin K2 for anyone interested in learning more about this molecule or advancing their own research efforts.

About the Editor

Dr. Gordeladze is a senior researcher and lecturer with a background in biochemistry and molecular endocrinology. He served as a Fulbright Scholar at the National Institute of Health, NIH in Washington D.C. in his early career. Currently he is working on mutations of hormonal signal systems (like the so-called G-proteins), and teaches basal endocrinology to medical students at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Do you have research on this important topic that you would like to publish? Contact us at editor@intechopen.com or explore our publishing options here.