Vitamin K2 (MK-7)
Vitamin K2 (Menaquinones, MK) plays an important role in bone and cardiovascular health. The activity of vitamin K2 is related to the length of the side chain. The longer the side chain, the better the absorption, the higher the biological activity, and the longer the time in the blood. Vitamin K2 (MK-7) is the most unique of the vitamin K2 family with highest bioavailability. It has a long half-life in the blood after oral intake, so it can play its benefits in a longer period of time.
The function and safety of vitamin K2 (MK-7) has been approved by the US FDA. According to WHO,vitamin K2, especially the long-chain vitamin K2 in the form of MK-7, is recognized as a high-quality natural vitamin K2.In 2008,the European Food Safety Authority(EFSA) has published a positive scientific opinion on vitamin K2, MK-7 from natto as a dietarysupplement and food ingredient. In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority gave a positive evaluation to the claim of vitamin K2 to reduce bone loss and improve bone integrity. Natto-derived vitamin K2 (MK-7) has been approved as Novel food.
Vitamin K2 (MK-7)-Gets calcium into the bone
1. Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women(2013):
Conclusion: Osteocalcin is carboxylated by vitamin K2.Vitamin K2 supplemention reduces serum concentrations of under--carboxylated osteocalcin and helps decrease bone loss.It is necessary in the process for absorption of osteocalcin into the bone.
2. Vitamin K2 supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women(2007):
Conclusion: Vitamin K2 is essential for maintaining bone strength in postmenopausal women, and also improved bone mineral content and femoral neck width.
3. The relationship between vitamin K2 intake and osteoporosis(SungenBio & Shenyang Pharmaceutical University):
Conclusion: Vitamin K2 enhances osteocalcin transformation and improves the deposition of calcium into the bones. Vitamin K2 has also been proven effective for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Source:
1. Knapen M H, Drummen N E, Smit E, et al. Osteoporos Int, 2013, 24(9):2499-2507.
2. Knapen M H, Schurgers L J, Vermeer C. Osteoporos Int, 2007, 18(7):963-972.
1. Thrombosis and Haemostasis published a research about "enhance vascular reactivity and reduce vascular sclerosis in postmenopausal women" in 2015:
Conclusion: The research indicated that carboxylation of bone matrix protein influences the risk of calcification. MGP keeps calcium out of arteries and potect the blood vessels.
2. The Rotterdam study "Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease" had followed more than 4800 initially healthy persons for over a 10 year period.
Conclusion: The study shows that people who consumed most vitamin K2, had a 50% reduced risk of arterial calcification and also a 50% risk reduction for cardiovascular, and 25% reduction of all-cause mortality.
Source:
1. Lip G Y, Weber C. A Happy New Year from Thrombosis and Haemostasis.Thrombosis & Haemostasis, 2015, 113(1):1-2.
2. Geleijnse J M, Vermeer C, Grobbee D E, et al. Journal of Nutrition, 2004, 134(11):3100.
Vitamin K2 supplementation in haemodialysis patients: a randomized dose-finding study(2014):
Conclusion: 200 patients with long-term hemodialysis were randomly allocated to supplementation of vitamin K2 for 8 weeks.The research have observed a downward trend in Gas6 with increasing dose of vitamin K2, showed a significant positive correlation (r=-0.24,P<0.01).Vitamin K2 supplementation may reduce the risk of vascular calcification in Hemodialysis patients with kidney disease.
Source:Caluwé R, Vandecasteele S, Van Vlem B, et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant, 2014, 29(7):1385-1390.
1. SungenBio and University of Kansas Center for Cancer Research published "Vitamin K2-Enhanced Liver Regeneration is Associated with Oval Cell Expansion and Up-Regulation of Matrilin-2 Expression in 2-AAF/PH Rat Model" in Current Molecular Medicine.
Conclusion: Organ, cell, protein and mRNA proved that Vitamin K2 can promote liver cell regeneration. Vitamin K2 treatment enhances liver regeneration, which is associated with expansion and matrilin-2 up-regulation .
2. Role of Vitamin K2 in the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Women With Viral Cirrhosis of the Liver:
Conclusion: Vitamin K2 treatment enhances liver regeneration, which is associated with matrilin-2 mRNA expression and matrilin-2 up-regulation. The K2 actions can effectively inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells and decrease the risk of liver cancer by 20%.
Source:
1. Lin M, Sun P, Zhang G, et al. Current Molecular Medicine, 2014, 14(3):-.
2. Habu D, Shiomi S, Tamori A, et al.Jama the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2005, 292(3):358-61.
"Vitamin K2 is a mitochondrial electron carrier that rescues pink1 deficiency" published in SCIENCE(2012):
Conclusion: Vitamin K2 can improve electron transport in the mitochondria and cures mitochondrial dysfunction to solve the defect of PINK1 gene in Parkinson's disease.
Source: Hwang Y C, Jeong I K, Ahn K J, et al. Diabetes/metabolism Research & Reviews, 2009, 25(8):768-772.
The uncarboxylated form of osteocalcin is associated with improved glucose tolerance and enhanced beta-cell function in middle-aged male subjects(2019):
Conclusion: Diabetes is associated with reduced insulin secretion caused by pancreatic calcification. Vitamin K2 increases insulin sensitivity, thereby helping to reduce the risk of diabetes.
Source:Vos M, Esposito G, Edirisinghe J N, et al. Science, 2012, 336(6086):1306.
The effect of menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) supplementation on osteocalcin carboxylation in healthy prepubertal children:
Conclusion: One of the most common causes of joint pain in childhood is Vitamin K2 deficiency. Vitamin K2 supplements enhance osteocalcin accumulation and reduces serum concentrations of under-γ-carboxylatedosteocalcin.
Source:van Summeren M J, Braam L A, Lilien M R, et al. Br J Nutr, 2009, 102(8):1171-1178.
Vitamin K2 (MK-7) supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomised clinical tria (2015 Thrombosis and Haemostasis):
Conclusion: Vitamin K2 (MK-7) can accelerate blood flow in arm and thigh and reduce muscle spasms and pain caused by vascular calcification.
Source: Knapen M H, Braam L A, Drummen N E, et al. Thrombosis & Haemostasis, 2015, 113(5):1135-44.