Vitamin K2

Please note the following referenced scientific research is for informational use only. The results reported below may not necessarily occur in all our customers. The information should not replace advice from your health care practitioner. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific product.

Vitamin K refers to a group of fat-soluble vitamins, primarily divided into two main forms: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2 (menaquinones). While vitamin K1 is primarily known for its role in blood clotting, K2 serves an important role in cardiovascular health through regulation of calcium homeostasis. Due to modern manufacturing processes, the vitamin K content, particularly the vitamin K2 content, of the food supply today has significantly dropped, making vitamin K2 supplements a more reliable way to secure adequate intake (Theuwissen et al. 2014).

Bone Health

  • Several studies have demonstrated that vitamin K insufficiency is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fractures (Bügel S. 2022).

  • A 2022 meta-analysis of 16 studies in 6,425 postmenopausal women found that those taking vitamin K2 supplements had a positive effect on bone mineralisation and increased bone strength (Ma et al. 2022).

Heart Health

  • Vitamin K2 is linked to the prevention of arterial calcification and arterial stiffening. Sufficient intake of vitamin K2 has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of vascular damage by activating matrix GLA protein (MGP), which prevents calcium deposits from forming on artery walls (Maresz 2015).

  • Increased vitamin K2 intake may reduce arterial stiffness, slow progression of vascular and valvular calcification, lower the incidence of diabetes and coronary artery disease, and decrease cardiovascular mortality (Hariri et al. 2021).

References

  • Bügel S. 2008. "Vitamin K and bone health in adult humans." Vitamins and hormones, 78, 393–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0083-6729(07)00016-7

  • Ma, M. L., Ma, Z. J., He, Y. L., Sun, H., Yang, B., Ruan, B. J., Zhan, W. D., Li, S. X., Dong, H., & Wang, Y. X. 2022. "Efficacy of vitamin K2 in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Frontiers in public health, 10, 979649. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.979649

  • Beulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, et al. 2009. "High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification." Atherosclerosis. 203(2):489–493

  • Theuwissen, E., Magdeleyns, E. J., Braam, L. A., Teunissen, K. J., Knapen, M. H., Binnekamp, I. A., van Summeren, M. J., & Vermeer, C. 2014. Vitamin K status in healthy volunteers. Food & function, 5(2), 229–234. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3fo60464k

  • Maresz K. 2015. Proper Calcium Use: Vitamin K2 as a Promoter of Bone and Cardiovascular Health. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 14(1), 34–39.

  • Hariri, E., Kassis, N., Iskandar, J. P., Schurgers, L. J., Saad, A., Abdelfattah, O., Bansal, A., Isogai, T., Harb, S. C., & Kapadia, S. 2021. Vitamin K2-a neglected player in cardiovascular health: a narrative review. Open heart, 8(2), e001715. https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2021-001715