vitamin K2

There is a lot of buzz about vitamin K2 in the world of health and nutrition. Vitamin K2 is a lesser known nutrient, yet one that is vital for bone and cardiovascular health. Vitamin K2 is responsible for making sure that calcium is deposited in our bones and teeth, and not in arteries and soft tissues.

Vitamin K2 is a fat soluble vitamin that is manufactured by the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. If you have digestive/gallbladder problems, candida, chronic use of antibiotics, or adhere to a fat-free diet, you are most likely deficient. Signs of deficiency include:

-bruising easily
-bleeding excessively (nosebleeds, gums, menstruation)
-osteoporosis
-kidney stones

Immediately after reading about Vitamin K2, I started to think about it's connection to autism. Most children on the spectrum have intestinal candida and most likely don't have enough beneficial bacteria to produce vitamin K2. Or they are allergic to most of the dietary sources. I found an amazing paper:

Vitamin K Deficiency as a Cause of Autistic Symptoms (pdf)

The author proposes that unregulated deposition of calcium in the autistic child causes many autism symptoms, and that vitamin K2 deficiency is the culprit for calcium oxalate crystals found in autistic children.

Here are some links to other great articles on vitamin K2:

Vitamin K2 Controls Removal of Calcium from Arteries
Why Probiotics are Essential to Vitamin K, and Why You Likely Need More of Both
Weston Price studies on Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2: Putting Calcium Where it Belongs

Since I am not a fan of liver, I have been trying to eat more egg yolks, fermented foods, and organic animal fat to avoid vitamin K2 deficiency. My favorite new find is THIS sauerkraut. You can find it in the refrigerated section. It is naturally fermented and tastes really good. When I make it myself it doesn't turn out very well.

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