Preface

Vitamin K2 is a vitamin with multiple biological functions, ranging from calcification of the bone; decalcification of soft tissues (like blood vessels and heart valves); positive effects (i.e., functional normalization) of fat tissue, the pancreas, skeletal muscles, liver, and brain; and many others. Furthermore, it dampens or blocks untoward inflammatory processes induced by immune cells (like Th-1 and Th-17 cells), thus aiding our body in combating the detri‐ mental effects of interleukins and TNF-α on cell phenotypes, i.e., alteration and/or loss of specific cellular or tissue functions.

Hence, vitamin K2 may be construed as a factor or a hormone enabling our body in stabiliz‐ ing the so-called interorgan cross talk, in order to "normalize" a plethora of organ functions, such as bone and tooth differentiation/mineralization and soft tissue decalcification, a reduc‐ tion in the activity of inflammatory cells in general (which otherwise may destabilize cellu‐ lar phenotypes and therefore organ functioning), stimulation of adipocytes to develop into a beige type of fat cells, thus reducing the chances for developing adiposity and/or the degree to which fat and carbohydrate metabolism brings about unhealthy weight gain, as well as a remedy to prevent and or (perhaps also) cure conditions, like liver and prostate cancer, as well as dementia.

In this respect, vitamin K2 ingestion may be embraced as one factor, which supports longev‐ ity, as it so elegantly is described in the article by Dr. Lara Pizzorno: http://www.lmre‐ view.com/articles/view/Vitamin-K2-Essential-for-Prevention-of-Age-Associated-Chronic-Disease/. It is therefore important to explore the multitude of effects of vitamin K2 further, in order to gain more information about the biological effect of this little molecule.

And finally, the medical community is indebted to the research performed by the group of Dr. Satoshi Inoue, who founded the modern concept of vitamin K2, by creating experimen‐ tal animals/cells with genetic manipulations of the receptor SXR/PXR, which binds and brings about the effect of vitamin K2 in cells and whole organisms. We are honored to present some of his work in the present compilation of articles on vitamin K2.

I would also like to thank all the authors who contributed to this book, as well as Kappa Bioscience of Norway, which helped make this book possible, while still ensuring full aca‐ demic freedom for each and every team of scientists who shared their special knowledge of vitamin K2.

**Jan Oxholm Gordeladze, professor PhD**

Institute of Basic Medical Science, Dept. of Molecular Medicine, Section for Biochemistry, Norway

**Section 1**

**Introduction**

**Section 1**
