Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that was originally recognised for its role in the coagulation process (K comes from the German word “Koagulation”). There are two types of vitamin K: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and menaquinones (MKs or vitamin K2). Vitamin K 1 is found mainly in leafy green vegetables and vegetable oils, while vitamin K2 is found in products of animal origin and is produced through various bacterial fermentation processes (1).

In addition to its role in coagulation (vitamin K is needed for the functioning of many of the enzymes involved in the clotting cascade), vitamin K plays a fundamental role in bone health, as it is required for the activation of osteocalcin, the most abundant non-collagenous protein found in bone (2) that helps to fix calcium in the bone matrix, participating in bone mineralisation (3). This role in maintaining bone health has been demonstrated in various studies that observed a positive effect of vitamin K on bone mineral density and a reduced risk of fracture (4). In countries such as Japan, for example, use of vitamin K2 is approved for the osteoporosis (5).

Together with these properties, vitamin K2 promotes suppleness in the arteries by preventing the accumulation of calcium in the artery walls (3), helping to reduce cardiovascular problems.

Although vitamin K is fat-soluble, the body only stores a small amount, so stores of the vitamin can be depleted rapidly if there isn’t a regular supply through diet, while vitamin K deficiency increases the risk of fracture and osteoporosis (6). Low levels of vitamin K have also been linked to a greater predisposition to osteoarthritis in the hands and knees (7).

Our product: Menaquinone-7 (MK-7)

One dose of our product contains 105 μg (140% NRVs*) of menaquinone-7 (MK-7) (vitamin K2) produced through biotechnology (obtained through natural fermentation). Recently, a study also demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of our vitamin MK-7 (8), confirming another mechanism through which vitamin K2 aids cardiovascular health.

*NRVs: Nutrient Reference Values.

Bibliography

1. Inaba et al. (2015) Low-dose daily intake of vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7) improves osteocalcin γ-carboxylation: a double-blind, randomized controlled trials. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 61(6): 471-80.

2. Hamidi et al. (2013) Vitamin K and bone health. J Clin Densitom 16(4):409-13.

3. Maresz (2015) Proper calcium use: Vitamin K2 as a promoter of bone and cardiovascular health. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Feb; 14(1): 34–39.

4. Pearson et al. (2007) Bone health and osteoporosis: the role of vitamin K and potential antagonism by anticoagulants. Nutr Clin Pract 22(5): 517-44.

5. Katsuyama et al. (2004) Promotion of bone formation by fermented soybean (Natto) intake in premenopausal women. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 50: 114-120.

6. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-K

7. Shea et al. (2015) The association between vitamin K status and knee osteoarthritis features in older adults: The health, aging and body composition study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 23(3): 370–378.