Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 is arguably the most interesting vitamin of this decade. Its function is unique and its beneficial effects on bone and cardiovascular health have been clearly documented.

Osteoporosis and cardio vascular disease are closely linked: the lack of calcium in bones correlates strongly with calcium build up in arteries. This is called the “Calcium paradox” and Vitamin K2 plays a vital role in this “double-jeopardy” situation by activating crucial proteins responsible for bone mineralization and vascular calcification.

Vitamin K2 is needed for the activation of specific proteins which perform a number of essential activities throughout the body, including regulating blood clotting and effective calcium utilisation. Inadequate vitamin K2 results in these key proteins being “inactive” and thus “ineffective”.

K1 is the form used in the liver to activate clotting factors, while K2 is the form used in the rest of the body to activate Vitamin K-dependent proteins, including osteocalcin, which is essential for bone health, and matrix-Gla protein (MGP), which prevents calcification of blood vessels and organs.

MenaQ7 is natural vitamin K2 extracted from “Natto”, an ancient Japanese food which is extremely rich in the highly bioavailable form of Vitamin K2: menaquinone-7 (MK-7), the long chained K2 vitamin molecule offering superior bioavailability and health effects in low doses.

Only K2 has been tied to both bone health and cardiovascular health, and MenaQ7 is the safe, natural, non synthetic source of Vitamin K2.


K2 FOR HEALTHY BONES...
Calcium has been the focus of attention for decades for improvement of bone health, and is needed to build the hydroxyapatite matrix in our bones. However, several human studies have shown that this is not enough to prevent osteopenia, osteoporosis or fractures. Why? There are 2 vitamins known to be involved with calcium metabolism: vitamin D and vitamin K. Increased calcium intake, especially if combined with vitamin D, results in increased absorption of calcium. However, without Vitamin K2, our bodies cannot use Calcium effectively.

Vitamin K2 is needed to activate a specific bone protein called osteocalcin, which is essential to bind calcium effectively to the bone matrix, keeping bones dense and strong.

In the absence of Vitamin K2, osteocalcin remains inactive and thus not effective. As a result, very little Calcium is deposited and this calcium is lost into the blood stream – simultaneously increasing the risk of Osteoporosis and calcification of the arteries (arterial calcification). Vitamin K2 also stimulates the creation of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and restrains the creation of osteoclasts (bone-destroying cells).

Industry experts strongly reccomend vitamin K2 supplementation to help ensure bone and heart health. Recent research has shown that vitamin K2 plays a vital role in calcium utilization, and we believe it should be included in all calcium supplements.


K2 FOR HEALTH HEART...
Excess Calcium build-up in our cardiovascular system may lead to arterial calcification, and the calcium content of arteries is now proven to be more dangerous than elevated cholesterol.

Vitamin K2 is also required for activation of the vascular protein MGP, which is a potent inhibitor of vascular wall and heart valve calcification.

Lack of sufficient amounts of vitamin K2 strongly influences how the body tackles calcium. Bones get depleted of calcium while arteries and cartilage become calcified. At age 80 the average calcium content in the aorta is 140 times greater than the levels of aortic calcification at age 40. This may relate to a long period of unrecognized Vitamin K2 deficiency.


ARE WE K2 DEFICIENT?
Studies have shown that subclinical Vitamin K deficiency is present in most healthy adults and children in Western Populations. This is demonstrated by a striking difference in incidence and prevalence of poor bone health and cardiovascular diseases which exists between the populations in westernised and more traditionally Far East countries i.e. Oslo has the highest incidence of fractures, despite the fact that Norwegians drink a lot of milk which is one of the best dietary sources of calcium, compared to Japan and Singapore which have the lowest incidence of fractures. Recently it was shown that foods have less vitamin K than previously thought. Most multi-vitamins don't contain any vitamin K at all. The ones that do, don't contain enough for optimal health. Considering the importance of this vitamin, it's reasonable to ask yourself if you're getting enough.

Vitamin K2 as MenaQ7 optimizes the calcium binding to the bone structure, reducing the development of osteoporosis and simultaneously reducing the calcification of arteries.

“When knowing these facts, it is only to be expected that an increased Calcium intake, without sufficient vitamin K2 to activate proteins Osteocalcin in bones and MGP in blood vessels, may increase arterial calcification … but only when incomplete Calcium supplements are provided.”

British Medical Journal (BMJ 2005): “Prevention of fractures with Calcium and Vitamin D is not enough ... combining Vitamin K, Vitamin D and Calcium seems ideal ...”

Hence calcium + vitamin D + vitamin K2 could be the best known formulation that may improve bone and heart health.


WHY YOU NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE?
Because the focus has been on how much Vitamin K it takes to make blood clot, the issue of how much a person needs to maintain solid bone and clear arteries hasn't been adequately researched.

The RDA is roughly based on how much vitamin K is required to maintain clotting factors. According to evidence, this amount is dangerously inadequate for bone and arteries.


SAFETY
Vitamin K is not stored in the body, and is therefore nontoxic in high amounts.
Vitamin K has been approved in Japan for the treatment of osteoporosis since 1995 and no upper limit for K2 dosage is established internationally.

The Vitamin K2 dose needed to have a significant effect is 45 mcg per day.
45mcg is unlikely to interfere with anticoagulant treatment with Coumadin/Warfarin and does not provoke any additional risk of clot formation inside blood vessels.

This is recognised by GRAS association in the US as supplement safe to use