Forms of Vitamin K

We recently had an email asking us about Vitamin K:

"I recently heard that there are different forms of vitamin K. I noticed Cooper Complete has vitamin K. Is it vitamin K2? I'm not sure how many different kinds of vitamin K there are."

There are two forms of vitamin K, K1 and K2. The vitamin K in Cooper Complete multivitamin and mineral formulations is K1. Vitamin K1 (phytonadione) is the natural form of vitamin K found in the vegetables we consume, and is our primary source of vitamin K. Vitamin K2 compounds (menaquinones) are made by the bacteria in the human gut and provide a smaller amount of our vitamin K requirement. The prescriptions for vitamin K that some people take are in the vitamin K1 form.

Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, asparagus, watercress, and cabbage are rich in vitamin K, as are cauliflower, green peas, beans, and olives. Cooked vegetables do not have significantly lower levels of vitamin K. Vitamin K is also found in soybeans, meat, cereals and dairy products.