What protein does Vitamin K activate to bind calcium within the bone matrix?
Answer
Osteocalcin
The strong link between Vitamin K intake from sources like bok choy and skeletal health is mediated through a specific protein synthesis pathway. Vitamin K is required to activate a protein called osteocalcin. Osteocalcin plays a central and indispensable role in bone mineralization. Specifically, once activated by Vitamin K, osteocalcin becomes capable of binding calcium. This binding action effectively integrates the primary building block of bone—calcium—into the bone matrix, which is the scaffolding that solidifies bone structure and maintains density. Therefore, osteocalcin acts as the crucial intermediary through which Vitamin K exerts its positive influence on skeletal strength.
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