Veins are equipped with valves that keep the blood that passes through them flowing to your heart. When those valves malfunction, blood accumulates and calcifies in the arteries, creating a condition known as varicose veins. Inflammation, pain and leg ulcers can accompany the problem. Research shows that vitamin K, which is already known for preventing blood from mineralizing inside arteries, has the potential to relieve varicose veins. Seek medical advice before taking vitamin K supplements.
Vitamin K Overview
Vitamin K is essential for blood coagulation. The nutrient also promotes strong bones. Your body stores vitamin K, available from foods and in supplement form, for when you need it. Intestinal bacteria can also produce this nutrient. Thus, a vitamin K deficiency is unusual.
Vitamin K and Artery Health
Vitamin K activates a protein known as MGP. The substance prevents the crystallization of blood in the arteries, permitting it to circulate freely through your cardiovascular system. This same function seems to offer a potential for vitamin K to successfully treat varicose veins.
Vitamin K and Varicose Veins
The online magazine "Longevity Medicine Review" cites a study on the effects of vitamin K on varicose veins. The researchers did not ask participants to take vitamin K supplements. They collected cells from the varicose veins of men and women and tested them in a laboratory. First, scientists observed that the cells showed calcification and inactive MGP, the protein that vitamin K activates to avoid mineralization in your circulatory system. The researchers then noted that the calcification dissolved when they applied vitamin K to the cells.
Conclusions
Vitamin K is good for the veins, as it activates the MGP protein, essential for healthy blood circulation. More research is needed to verify whether vitamin K from food or supplements can dissolve the blood that accumulates and hardens in certain veins. The in vitro research done in Europe does not prove that the vitamin K that your body absorbs has the same effect on calcification as vitamin K applied directly to a cell in a Petri dish. Do not start taking vitamin K for varicose veins without discussing it with your doctor. It is also worth noting that a synthetic form of vitamin K -- K3 -- sold as a dietary supplement can cause liver problems and cell damage.
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