Why Vitamin K Matters Now / Woods Health Blog Woods Health Supplements And Vitamins

Learning about nutrition in midlife can feel like rediscovering something valuable. That’s the case with vitamin K. Most people pay attention to calcium and vitamin D, while vitamin K often gets ignored. New research shows that vitamin K is important for keeping bones strong and arteries healthy.

Research shows that Vitamin K is a daily supplement that helps your body move calcium into your bones, which helps to reduce the amount accumulating in the blood vessels. It also supports normal blood clotting.

Vitamin K, in one tidy nutshell

Vitamin K is actually a group of vitamins. K1 (phylloquinone) is found mostly in leafy greens like kale and spinach. It helps the liver with normal blood clotting and supports bone health.

All forms of vitamin K have the same main job: they help certain proteins become active so they can work properly. These proteins include osteocalcin in bones and matrix Gla protein in blood vessels. When activated, these proteins can bind calcium as needed. You can think of vitamin K as guiding calcium to where it should go.

Why does this matter more after 50

• Bone changes happen throughout life, but after age 50, especially after menopause, bone loss becomes more common. When osteocalcin is well-activated, it helps support bone mineralisation where it is needed.
• As we age, arteries can become stiffer, partly due to calcification of soft tissues. By age 65, many adults have some vascular calcification, even if they feel healthy. When activated by vitamin K, matrix Gla protein (MGP) helps to prevent more calcification from happening in the arterial walls.
• Many older adults do not eat enough leafy greens or fermented foods each day, and vitamin K1 from greens is not always well absorbed because it is tightly bound in plant membranes. Studies show that only about up to 15% of vitamin K1 from leafy greens is absorbed by the body, so even a large salad may not provide all the vitamin K you need. Taking a supplement can help fill this gap.

What 300 µg of vitamin K can do for you?

Here’s how the science translates into real benefits:

1. Supports strong, resilient bones
   • The mechanism: Vitamin K activates osteocalcin, a protein that helps bind calcium into the bone matrix. Better-activated osteocalcin is associated with improved bone quality.
2. Helps keep arteries supple
   • The mechanism: Activated MGP is one of the body’s strongest natural defences against calcium buildup in blood vessels. When vitamin K is low, there is more of the inactive form, which is linked to stiffer arteries and more calcification.
3. Supports normal blood clotting
   • Vitamin K helps your liver activate clotting factors, so when you get a small cut, your blood clots as it should. This is the main, well-known role of vitamin K

How a nutritionist builds vitamin K into a 50+ routine

• Make it mealtime: Vitamin K is fat-soluble. Take your daily dose with a meal that includes some healthy fat—think olive oil on salad, avocado, eggs, salmon, nuts, or yoghurt.
• Be consistent: The benefits start to show after longer use (some trials suggest it takes months to show improvements), especially for bone and vascular outcomes. This is a “quietly doing the work in the background” supplement.
• Keep eating your greens: Supplements complement, not replace, a healthy diet. Leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, and fermented foods contribute additional K and other nutrients your bones and vessels love. And eat some healthy fat with it as mentioned above.
• Vitamin K partners with vitamin D, protein, and resistance exercise. Vitamin D helps your body make osteocalcin and MGP; vitamin K helps activate them. Protein and strength training tell your skeleton, “We still mean business.”
• Resistance training is especially valuable when taking vitamin K because it stimulates new bone formation and helps maintain muscle strength as you age. When combined with vitamin K, which supports the activation of proteins involved in bone mineralisation, resistance training can further improve bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.

Who stands to benefit the most?

• Anyone over 50 who does not eat leafy greens or fermented foods most days
• Postmenopausal women and older men focused on bone strength and healthy ageing.
• People who want to complete their calcium and vitamin D plan with a nutrient that helps guide calcium to the right places.

Frequently asked questions.

Will I feel anything?

• Probably not, and that’s normal. Vitamin K works quietly in the background, and its benefits become clear over time.

Do I still need calcium and vitamin D?

• If your diet does not provide enough calcium and vitamin D, then yes, you still need them. Calcium is the building material, vitamin D helps manage the process, and vitamin K ensures the materials are used correctly.

How I’d use Woods Health Vitamin K 300mcg in a daily routine

It’s best to take this in with breakfast or lunch, as eating some healthy fats will help your body to absorb it better. Your body will benefit from eating greens and getting in two to three sessions of resistance training each week.

Bottom line

Woods Health Vitamin K 300 µg is a simple but powerful way to support your health as you age. For people over 50, it helps direct calcium to your bones, protects your arteries, and supports normal blood clotting. It’s a practical, evidence-based supplement that quietly contributes to your long-term wellbeing.

If you are on medication or have any new or existing conditions, please speak to your GP before starting a new supplement.

References

• Shearer M.J., et al. (2008) Metabolism and cell biology of vitamin K. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 100(4):530-547.
• Booth S.L. (2009) Roles for vitamin K beyond coagulation. Annual Review of Nutrition, 29:89-110.
• Vaccaro, J.A., et al. (2013) Phylloquinone (Vitamin K1) Intake and Pulse Pressure as a Measure of Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults, Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics, p244-257.
• Binkley, N.C. (2002) A high phylloquinone intake is required to achieve maximal osteocalcin γ-carboxylation, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 76(5), 1055-1060.
• Shea M.K., et al. (2016) Vitamin K, vascular calcification, and chronic kidney disease: A review. Current Opinion in Lipidology, 27(6):531-537.
• Ferland G. (2012) Vitamin K and the brain: An overview of its actions. Nutrients, 4(4):211-232.