Abstract

Vitamin K has recently gained importance as a potential therapeutic agent beyond blood coagulation. Vitamin K2 is found to be a superior nutrient supplement than K1. K1 is mainly obtained from leafy vegetables, whereas K2 is sourced from fermented products and gut microbiota. However, in contrast to other fat-soluble vitamins, body does not accumulate vitamin K and depends on K cycle for its effective use. Vitamin K2 regulates body calcium metabolism. An insufficient vitamin K2 dose increases the risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite a lot of available literature and also approval by safety regulatory bodies, including Food and Drug Administratio (FDA), its awareness among healthcare professionals and general public is still poor. This understudied nutrient has gained a lot of attention in the market because of its multifaceted role in disease management. Aggressive competition within key sellers is one of the critical factors, which expeditiously upsurge the market growth of vitamin K. The rapid increase in patent applications during the last decade reflects its worldwide recognition as an emerging nutraceutical and hence its future market potential.

Key words: Vitamin K; Menaquinones; Gut microbiota; Nutraceuticals; Bone health; Hormone