Benefits

Vitamin K Depletion†

Although most people consume adequate dietary amounts of vitamin K to maintain sufficient blood clotting, most do not consume enough MK-7 to meet cardiovascular and bone health needs. In fact, approximately 70% of the Western population is deficient in vitamin K2. Compromised intestinal absorption can also lead to insufficient K2 levels, leaving calcium available to be exported out of bone and into other tissues. Other medications, such as antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medications and laxatives, have also been found to contribute to a deficiency of vitamin K.10,11

Bone Health†

Supplementation of K2 has repeatedly been shown to help maintain bone density and strength among women.12 Research conducted on Japanese populations has found superior bone health among women who more frequently consumed MK-7-rich nattō than those who did not.13 The positive effect of K2 on bone health is also evident among healthy children, among whom modest supplementation with MK-7 has been shown to increase osteocalcin carboxylation.9 In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 180 mcg of MK-7 or a placebo was given to 244 healthy post-menopausal women over three years. After at least two years, statistically significant benefits were seen in vertebrae, hip and femoral neck.14 Another ground-breaking, randomized, placebo-controlled trial gave 244 women aged 55-65 180 mcg of vitamin K2 or a placebo. The study found that those given the K2 were significantly better able to maintain their osteoclast to osteoblast ratio. Furthermore, levels of circulating osteocalcin, a marker related to tissue calcification in the body, were reduced by 50% among women taking K2 versus a 4% increase among the placebo group after two and three years.4

Cardiovascular Health and Blood Sugar Balance†

Vitamin K also plays a key role in supporting the cardiovascular system and healthy blood sugar balance. In a large population study, those who consumed high amounts of K2 had significantly improved cardiovascular markers compared to those given vitamin K1.2 A cohort of over 16,000 women also linked higher intake of K2 with better maintenance of cardiovascular health.15 Studies have also shown vitamin K to support healthy blood sugar metabolism.16,17 In a 2021 study, a cohort of 68 people received 180 mcg of vitamin K as MK-7 twice daily for 12 weeks, and the results showed support for cardiovascular health.18 Another three-year study showed that long-term supplementation of 180 mcg of vitamin K2 as MK-7 was safe and effectively maintained healthy arterial elasticity and cardiovascular function.19,20 The same amount of MK-7 was also found to impart substantial benefits in arterial plasticity and blood vessel elasticity in healthy women, which had previously been shown only with “pharmacological doses” of up to 4,500mcg of synthetic vitamin K.14

Triage Theory

The Triage Theory states that in the face of nutrient inadequacies, nature ensures the short-term survival of a cell is protected at the expense of long-term consequences.20,21 Vitamin K is an excellent example of this theory. Hypothetically, a short-term deficiency in vitamin K would lead to a reduction in blood clotting. This direct threat to survival does not happen because the body uses its metabolic reserve of vitamin K to ensure immediate needs are met. If prolonged, this dip into nutrient reserves leads to a long-term deficiency in vitamin K. Though not directly threatening immediate survival, long-term deficiencies are linked to bone fragility, arterial calcification and genomic instability. These issues are related to a loss of vitamin K-dependent proteins that are not required for short-term survival but nevertheless present long-term health challenges.20