Vitamin K exists in several forms. Vitamin K1 is found mainly in leafy green vegetables, while vitamin K2 refers to a group of compounds known as menaquinones.
Vitamin K is important for normal blood clotting and also participates in proteins involved in bone metabolism.
Some online articles claim that statins cause vitamin K2 deficiency because cholesterol and vitamin K-related pathways can overlap metabolically. However, this does not mean that ordinary statin therapy has been proven to cause clinically significant vitamin K2 deficiency.
At present, routine vitamin K2 supplementation is not a standard recommendation for everyone taking a statin.
This is especially important for people taking anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin, because changing vitamin K intake can interfere with how these drugs work.
Never begin a high-dose vitamin K supplement without discussing it with a doctor or pharmacist if you take medication that affects blood clotting.
4. Selenium Is Sometimes Included—but the Evidence Is Weak
Selenium is an essential trace mineral involved in antioxidant defenses, thyroid hormone metabolism, and other physiological processes.
Good dietary sources include:
