The key difference between vitamin K1 K2 and K3 is that vitamin K1 is abundant in leafy green vegetables, and vitamin K2 is abundant in fermented foods and some animal products, whereas vitamin K3 is an artificial form of vitamin K.
Vitamin K is an important vitamin to our body and has a major role in blood clotting. It belongs to the fat-soluble vitamin group sharing similar structures with each other. This vitamin was accidentally found in the 1920s. There are several types of vitamin K, but the most common ones are vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is also known as phylloquinone, while vitamin K2 is known as menaquinones.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Vitamin K1
3. What is Vitamin K2
4. What is Vitamin K3
5. Vitamin K1 vs K2 vs K3 in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Vitamin K1 vs K2 vs K3
What is Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone)?
Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is an important vitamin that is abundant in plant food such as leafy green vegetables. Of all the vitamins consumed by humans, vitamin K1 makes up about 75-90%. The major sources of vitamin K1 include kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, and brussels sprouts.
The main function of vitamin K in our body is the activation of proteins that serve important roles in blood clotting, heart health, and bone health. Generally, vitamin K1 can be found in plants, so it is poorly absorbed by the body. The absorption can be less than 10%.
What is Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone)?
Vitamin K2 or menaquinone is an important vitamin that is abundant in fermented food and animal products. It is also produced by gut bacteria. Different menaquinones are named using the length of the side chain they have. The side chain lengths range from MK-4 to MK-13. When considering the sources of vitamin K2, it varies by the food source. Some examples are given below:
- MK-4 can be found in animal products such as chicken, egg yolk, and butter
- MK-5 can be found in foods produced using bacteria (fermented foods)
Vitamin K2 is comparatively more absorbed than vitamin K1 because it comes from animal-derived sources. Moreover, the long side chain of vitamin K2 allows it to circulate in the blood for a longer time than vitamin K1. E.g. vitamin K1 survives in blood for several hours while vitamin K2 exists for several days. This longer circulation time allows it to be used better in tissues.
What is Vitamin K3?
Vitamin K3 is an artificial type of vitamin K that does not come from any natural source. It is also known as menadione. It is produced synthetically from vitamin K. Inside the liver, vitamin K3 converts into vitamin K2. Many animals are able to convert vitamin K3 into active forms of vitamin K. However, due to safety concerns, vitamin K3 supplements are not available over-the-counter.
What is the Difference Between Vitamin K1 K2 and K3?
Vitamin K is an important vitamin to the body and has a major role in blood clotting. There are different types of vitamin K forms, such as vitamin K1, vitamin K2, and vitamin K3. The key difference between vitamin K1 K2 and K3 is that vitamin K1 is abundant in leafy green vegetables, and vitamin K2 is abundant in fermented food and some animal products, whereas vitamin K3 is an artificial form of vitamin K and is not found in any natural sources.
The below infographic presents the differences between vitamin K1 K2 and K3 in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Vitamin K1 vs K2 vs K3
The key difference between vitamin K1 K2 and K3 is that vitamin K1 is abundant in leafy green vegetables, and vitamin K2 is abundant in fermented food and some animal products, whereas vitamin K3 is an artificial form of vitamin K and is not found in any natural sources.
Reference:
1. Walle, Gavin Van De. “Vitamin K3 (Menadione): Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 22 Apr. 2020.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Phylloquinone (vitamin K1)” By Kharris439 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Menaquinone (vitamin K2)” By Kharris439 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia