Vitamin K2-7 is an important vitamin required for bone and cardiovascular health

Vitamin K is a cofactor for enzyme, γ-glutamylcarboxylase. This γ-carboxylation allows VKD proteins to bind calcium. Vitamin K is required for the activity of coagulation and anticoagulation factors and for the binding of osteocalcin to hydroxyapatite in bone.¹Both forms of vitamin K, K1 and K2, are essential in maintaining blood hemostasis and optimal bone and heart health through the role they play in inducing calcium use by proteins. Vitamin K, particularly vitamin K2, is essential for calcium use, helping build strong bones and inhibiting arterial calcification². The vitamin K–dependent protein, matrix GLA protein (MGP), is a central calcification inhibitor produced by the cells of vascular smooth muscles and regulates the potentially fatal accumulation of calcium.

One recent clinical trial³ investigated the effects of supplemental MK-7 in a 3-year period for a group of 244 postmenopausal women. It was found that a daily dose of 180 mcg was enough to improve bone mineral density, bone strength, and cardiovascular health. They also showed that achieving a clinically relevant improvement required at least 2 years of supplementation. Vitamin K2 7 can also help in reduction of elasticity and reduction in age related arterial stiffening which was proved by the results of a trial⁴, where carotid artery distensibility was significantly improved for a 3-year period after using vitamin K2 -7 as compared with that of a placebo group.

A population-based Rotterdam study⁵ studied 4807 healthy men and women older than age 55 years, evaluating the relationship between dietary intake of vitamin K and aortic calcification, heart disease, and all-cause mortality. The study revealed that high dietary intake of vitamin K2—at least 32 mcg per day, with no intake of vitamin K1, was associated with a 50% reduction in death from cardiovascular issues related to arterial calcification and a 25% reduction in all-cause mortality

Adapted from The Bone- Vasculature Axis: Calcium supplementation and the role of Vitamin K, Frontiers CVD Medicine

Vitamin K2 promotes arterial flexibility by preventing accumulation of arterial calcium, and supplementation with it could correct calcium amounts in the body that are out of balance. Thus, calcium in tandem with vitamin K2 may well be the solution for bringing necessary bone benefits while circumventing an increased risk for heart disease.

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References:

1. Cranenburg EC, Vermeer C, Koos R, et al. The circulating inactive form of matrix Gla Protein (ucMGP) as a biomarker for cardiovascular calcification. J Vasc Res. 2008;45(5):427–436.39
2. Schurgers LJ, Teunissen KJ, Hamulyák K, Knapen MH, Vik H, Vermeer C. Vitamin K-containing dietary supplements: comparison of synthetic vitamin K1 and natto-derived menaquinone-7. Blood. 2007;109(8):3279–3283.
3. Knapen MH, Schurgers LJ, Vermeer C. Vitamin K2 supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 2007;18(7):963–972
4. American Society of Echocardiography. Ultrasound FAQ’s. See My Heart Web site.[Accessed November 26, 2014].
5. Geleijnse JM, Vermeer C, Grobbee DE, et al. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study. J Nutr. 2004;134(11):3100–3105