Vitamin K2 in animal health: An overview

O’Neil, J., Scarrott, B., Svalheim, R. A., Elliott, J., & Hodges, S. J. (2016). Vitamin K2 in animal health: An overview. InTechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/63901

The 2016 review article Vitamin K2 in Animal Health: An Overview, authored by Jayde O’Neil, Bethany Scarrott, Ragnhild Aven Svalheim, Jonathan Elliott, and Stephen J. Hodges, explores how Vitamin K2 supports bone health, blood clotting, and physiological function across animal species. While much of the research focuses on livestock such as cattle, poultry, and swine, the review also discusses the role of Vitamin K2 in companion animals, including dogs and cats.

Vitamin K2 is critical for bone metabolism because it activates proteins that regulate calcium distribution, ensuring that calcium is deposited in bones rather than soft tissues like blood vessels. This function is particularly relevant in animals prone to osteoporosis, skeletal deformities, or vascular calcification.

In many species, Vitamin K2 appears to enhance bone mineralization, improve bone strength, and support joint integrity—effects that may be relevant for aging dogs or breeds susceptible to orthopedic issues.

Key Findings:

• Vitamin K2 is essential for bone health and skeletal integrity.
  • It activates osteocalcin, a protein that binds calcium to the bone matrix, reinforcing bone strength.
  • In some species, supplementation improved bone density and reduced fracture risk, particularly when combined with Vitamin D3.
• Calcium metabolism plays a key role in both bone and cardiovascular health.
  • Vitamin K2 activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which prevents calcium from accumulating in arteries, reducing the risk of vascular calcification—a condition linked to heart disease in both animals and humans.
• Vitamin K2 is crucial for proper blood clotting.
  • Without sufficient Vitamin K2, clotting factors cannot function properly, leading to bleeding disorders, particularly in young animals or those on imbalanced diets.
• Deficiencies are rare but may impact long-term health.
  • While outright Vitamin K2 deficiency is uncommon in well-fed animals, insufficient levels may weaken bones, impair clotting, or increase the risk of calcium buildup in arteries.
• Dietary sources of Vitamin K2 vary by species.
  • Herbivores primarily obtain Vitamin K1 from plants, which their gut bacteria can partially convert to K2.
  • Carnivores and omnivores rely more on direct dietary sources of K2, typically from animal-based foods or microbial fermentation in the gut.

Relevance to Dogs:

Although this study does not focus specifically on dogs, its findings on bone health, joint support, and calcium regulation suggest that Vitamin K2 could be beneficial for canine skeletal integrity and cardiovascular health. Given its role in preventing bone loss and managing calcium metabolism, further research could clarify how Vitamin K2 supports aging dogs, breeds predisposed to joint issues, or those at risk for vascular disease.