Is Vitamin K Calming? Exploring the Link to Mood and Anxiety

November 16, 2025 •

5 min read

While vitamin K is famously known for its role in blood clotting, recent observational studies and animal research have begun to suggest a potential connection between this essential nutrient and brain function. The question, 'Is vitamin K calming?', points to a growing area of interest in nutritional psychiatry, exploring how this vitamin might influence mood and anxiety through its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

Quick Summary

Preliminary evidence from animal and human studies indicates that higher vitamin K status may correlate with a lower risk of depressive and anxious behaviors, possibly due to its role in regulating inflammation and protecting brain cells.

Key Points

Inverse Association: Higher vitamin K intake or status is correlated with lower depressive and anxious symptoms in observational studies.
Neuroprotective K2: The MK-4 form of vitamin K2 is highly concentrated in the brain and linked to potential neuroprotective and mood-regulating effects.
Anti-Inflammatory Action: Vitamin K functions as an antioxidant, combating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, which are factors in mood disorders.
Supports Brain Structure: It regulates sphingolipid metabolism, maintaining the integrity of brain cell membranes and nerve insulation.
Cautionary Note: Current human research is largely observational, and more randomized controlled trials are needed to establish a direct causal link between vitamin K supplementation and a calming effect.

The Surprising Connection Between Vitamin K and Brain Health

For decades, the primary function of vitamin K in human health was understood to be its role as a cofactor for proteins involved in blood coagulation. However, an expanding body of research is shedding light on its vital extrahepatic functions, particularly within the central nervous system. The brain contains a high concentration of menaquinone-4 (MK-4), a form of vitamin K2, which plays a role in neuronal health and signaling. This presence suggests a much broader, more complex role for vitamin K than previously recognized, including its potential impact on mental well-being.

Unpacking the Anti-Anxiety and Antidepressant Effects

Several studies have explored the relationship between vitamin K and mood disorders like anxiety and depression, with promising but still preliminary findings.

Observational Studies in Humans

Inverse Correlation with Depressive Symptoms: A large cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found a significant inverse relationship between vitamin K intake and depressive symptoms in US adults. Those in the highest quartile of vitamin K intake had lower odds of experiencing depressive symptoms compared to those in the lowest quartile.
Lower Levels in Depression: Another study involving patients with depression found that individuals with a history of suicide attempts had significantly lower serum vitamin K levels compared to those without such history, suggesting a potential link between low vitamin K and more severe depressive states.
Important Caveat: While these population-based studies show a strong association, their cross-sectional design means they cannot establish a causal relationship. It's possible that dietary patterns of depressed individuals differ, rather than vitamin K deficiency causing the mood changes.

Animal Research on Mood and Anxiety

Preclinical studies using animal models provide more direct evidence of a neuroprotective effect. Researchers have observed that vitamin K2 supplementation can reduce anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats.

Metabolic Syndrome Model: In a 2016 study, rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome displayed anxiety and depression-like behaviors, along with elevated blood glucose. Vitamin K2 treatment not only normalized blood glucose but also prevented the development of these mood-related symptoms.
Oxidative Stress Reduction: Other animal studies have shown that vitamin K2 can improve mood and behavior by reducing oxidative stress markers in the brain. Oxidative stress and inflammation are strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of depression.

Potential Mechanisms of Action

Research points to several biological pathways through which vitamin K, particularly MK-4, could exert calming and mood-regulating effects.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Chronic neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are recognized as key contributors to neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders. Vitamin K is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect brain cells from damage. It's involved in mitigating neuroinflammatory responses, and some forms, like MK-4, have specific antioxidant properties that protect against oxidative damage.

Regulation of Sphingolipid Metabolism

Vitamin K is crucial for the synthesis and metabolism of sphingolipids, which are essential components of brain cell membranes and are involved in crucial cell-signaling functions. Adequate vitamin K status supports the integrity of the myelin sheath that insulates nerve fibers. Disruptions in sphingolipid metabolism have been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting vitamin K’s role in maintaining this system is vital for neuronal function and mood regulation.

Activation of Vitamin K-Dependent Proteins

Vitamin K is a cofactor for the γ-carboxylation of several proteins, some of which are found in the brain and contribute to nerve cell health. Two notable examples are:

Gas6: The Growth Arrest-Specific 6 protein signals through TAM receptors in the brain to promote cell survival and growth in neurons and glia. This signaling pathway helps regulate inflammation and supports overall nervous system homeostasis.
Osteocalcin: This hormone, activated by vitamin K, can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to improve mood and cognition in mice. It enhances learning, memory, and neurogenesis while stimulating the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

Vitamin K1 vs. Vitamin K2 for Brain Health


Feature	Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone)	Vitamin K2 (Menaquinones)
Primary Dietary Source	Green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli.	Animal products (meats, eggs, dairy) and fermented foods (natto).
Active Brain Form	Converted to MK-4 in vivo. Less directly relevant to brain function than MK-4.	MK-4 is the predominant form in brain tissue and appears to have specific neuroprotective effects.
Tissue Distribution	Concentrates primarily in the liver for blood clotting function.	Exhibits wider distribution to extrahepatic tissues, including the brain.
Role in Neuroinflammation	Indirectly contributes via overall vitamin K status.	More directly implicated in protective actions against oxidative stress and inflammation, particularly in the brain.
Implications for Mood	Higher dietary intake associated with better cognitive outcomes in some observational studies.	Preclinical studies show more targeted anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.

Optimizing Your Vitamin K Intake

Given the potential benefits, ensuring adequate vitamin K intake is a prudent step for overall health. The best way to get vitamin K is through a balanced diet, as supplementation is not necessary for most people and can have specific considerations for those on anticoagulant medications.

Dietary sources include:

Vitamin K1: Excellent sources are dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens, as well as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
Vitamin K2: Found in animal-based products and fermented foods like natto (fermented soybeans) and certain cheeses. Meat, eggs, and dairy products contain K2, with higher amounts often found in pastured and grass-fed varieties.

Conclusion: A Promising Area of Nutritional Research

While the direct calming effects of vitamin K are not yet clinically established in humans, the mounting scientific evidence is highly suggestive of a beneficial relationship between this nutrient and mental well-being. The preliminary findings from observational studies and animal models, alongside the identified anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms, point toward vitamin K—particularly the K2 isoform MK-4—as a potential adjunctive nutrient for supporting brain health and mood regulation. As research continues to unfold, incorporating vitamin K-rich foods into a balanced diet remains a practical strategy for those seeking to optimize their mental and cognitive health. As always, consulting a healthcare professional is wise before starting any new supplement regimen.

How does vitamin K affect the brain?

Vitamin K, particularly the MK-4 form, influences the brain through several mechanisms: it acts as a potent antioxidant, protects against neuroinflammation, regulates sphingolipid metabolism (essential for myelin integrity), and activates vitamin K-dependent proteins like Gas6 and osteocalcin, which promote cell survival and mood regulation.

Key Takeaways

Emerging Link: Research, though preliminary, suggests an inverse association between vitamin K intake and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Brain Form: Menaquinone-4 (MK-4), a subtype of vitamin K2, is the dominant form in the brain and appears to have specific neuroprotective and mood-regulating properties.
Key Mechanisms: Potential calming effects are linked to vitamin K's ability to reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, regulate nervous system sphingolipids, and activate mood-related proteins like osteocalcin.
Evidence is Growing: While animal studies show promising results, most human evidence is observational, indicating a need for more controlled clinical trials to confirm causality.
Dietary Sources are Key: The best approach is to obtain vitamin K from dietary sources, such as leafy greens for K1 and fermented foods and animal products for K2.

Frequently Asked Questions

While some preliminary research suggests a correlation between higher vitamin K status and lower anxiety symptoms, the direct calming effect of supplements has not been definitively proven in human clinical trials. Most evidence is from observational or animal studies, and more research is needed.

Vitamin K is essential for sphingolipid metabolism, which maintains brain cell membranes. It also activates special proteins like Gas6 and osteocalcin, which are involved in nerve cell survival and mood regulation, and helps combat neuroinflammation.

The K2 isoform, specifically MK-4, is the predominant form of vitamin K in the brain and is more directly linked to neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies than K1. For mood-related benefits, research suggests K2 may be more impactful due to its better bioavailability in the brain.

For K1, focus on dark leafy greens like kale and spinach. For K2, look to fermented foods such as natto, and animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy, particularly from pastured or grass-fed sources.

While vitamin K deficiency is not a primary cause of anxiety, studies have found lower vitamin K levels in some individuals with depression and anxiety. This suggests that suboptimal vitamin K status might contribute to mood dysregulation, but more research is required to fully understand the link.

Vitamin K helps activate osteocalcin, a bone-secreted hormone that can cross the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, osteocalcin enhances neurogenesis and stimulates the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin, helping to promote a sense of well-being.

While some people report a general sense of well-being with optimal vitamin K intake, it should not be considered a treatment for stress. It is best to focus on getting adequate intake through a healthy diet. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking supplements, especially if you have an existing medical condition or are on medication.