Thursday, November 11, 2010

Indirect Connections

After much searching through various online databases not much has been found on my part relating vitamin k to muscle tissue health.  Over the past weeks of developing our blogs I have learned much about vitamin k and the roles it does have in our bodies.  Here's what we know so far:

Roles of vitamin K

- critical factor in influencing liver enzymes to stimulate the coagualtion cascade for blood clotting factors

- stimulation of bone formation via osteoblasts

- regualtion of osteclast activity and programmed cell death (apoptosis)

- influencing factor in cell formation specifically with the kidneys, heart, lungs

Indirect Effects

As mentioned I have not found any information regarding a driect influence of vitamin k on muscle tissue; however with the knowledge at hand we can gather that it does have indirect influences on our muscles.

- provides strong bones for muscle attachment sites and structural movement

- aids in regulating blood flow via homeostatic feedback of blood coagulation

- provides support of cell formation for organs critical to the maintenance and functioning of our muscles via:
          - proper circulation of blood and nutrients to working muscles
          - adequate perfusion/diffusion within the alveoli of our lungs
          - proper secretion, absorption, and excretion of various toxins and nutrients through renal filtration

Though these are not direct correlations between vitamin k and muscle health it is important to remember what vitamin k does have an inlfuence over that may itself have some direct inlfuence on muscle tissue.

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