ingredients

Vitamin K2 (MK-7)

Vitamin K2 (MK-7)

Summary

  • Vitamin K2 MK-7 (Menaquinone-7) is a subtype of Vitamin K2, known for its presence in fermented foods.
  • Essential for blood clotting and offers extensive benefits for bone, heart, and dental health.
  • More bioavailable and longer-lasting in the body than other Vitamin K forms.
  • Shown to reduce age-related decline in bone mineral density and strength in postmenopausal women.
  • Stimulates bone formation, potentially preventing bone deterioration with aging.
  • Protects against age-related cognitive and structural decline by modulating certain cellular pathways.
  • High doses reduce cardiovascular calcification, suggesting benefits for heart health.
  • Improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients, indicating potential management benefits for diabetes

What is Vitamin K2 MK-7?


Vitamin K2 MK-7 (Menaquinone-7) is a form of Vitamin K2, one of the several subtypes of vitamin K. MK-7 is a natural form of vitamin K2 found in high amounts in fermented foods, particularly natto, a Japanese fermented soybean dish.


Vitamin K is essential for the body, primarily known for its role in blood clotting. However, Vitamin K2, especially in its MK-7 form, goes beyond clotting and has several other significant health benefits, including bone, heart and dental health (R).


Compared to other forms of Vitamin K, MK-7 is more bioavailable and has a longer half-life, which means it stays in the body longer, providing more extended benefits (R).


Vitamin K2 MK-7 Impact on Aging and Longevity


Vitamin K2 MK-7 supplementation has significantly decreased the age-related decline in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength in healthy postmenopausal women, suggesting that low-dose MK-7 supplements may help prevent bone loss (R).


Another study on elderly female rat femoral tissues indicated that MK-7 stimulates bone formation in vitro, which may prevent bone deterioration with aging (R).


MK-7 was found to protect against age-related structural and cognitive deterioration in naturally aged rats by modulating the Nrf2/NLRP3/caspase-1 axis, highlighting its potential as a candidate for halting the progression of structural and cognitive deterioration in the aged population (R).


High-dose MK-7 supplementation has been shown to reduce cardiovascular calcification in a murine model, suggesting a protective effect against vascular calcification and possibly improving cardiovascular health (R).


MK-7 supplementation improved glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, indicating a potential role in managing diabetes mellitus (R).

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Written By Natasha Jordan

BHSc Qualification in Nutritional Medicine, Postgraduate Degree in Public Health, Registered & Accredited through ANTA

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