Vitamin K: Finally, the Credit It Deserves
Everyone hears about calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D—especially vitamin D—and support of bone health lately. But has vitamin K been pushed into the background as a result?
Maybe not for long. If your patients with bone health concerns keep up with the latest health news, they’ll see that vitamin K won’t remain an unsung hero much longer.
Of course, Vitamin K has always been in the OsteoPrime®† Forte and OsteoPrime®† Ultra bone formulas, and a new, highly bioavailable form of vitamin K2, called MenaQ7™ has also been added to OsteoPrime®† Ultra.
OsteoPrime† Forte
Included in OsteoPrime† Forte, vitamin K influences osteocalcin to attract calcium and support bone mineralization.†1 Clinical studies show how vitamin K matters:
- A 3-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 155 women found that vitamin K1 may substantially support bone density.†2
- Another study of female athletes showed that vitamin K supplementation supported the calcium-binding ability of osteocalcin.†3
- A study within the Nurses' Health Study, assessed health data from 72,327 women between the ages of 38 and 63. It found that low intake of vitamin K was correlated with poor bone density support.4
OsteoPrime† Ultra
Another form of vitamin K is included in OsteoPrime† Ultra—vitamin K2, or menaquinone-7—which is produced from fermented soybeans (natto), under the brand name MenaQ7™. This form of vitamin K may be even more exciting. Not only does it provide some of the bone-supporting abilities of K1, but natural K2 has been shown to have a longer half-life in the bloodstream, which ultimately means a greater benefit.†1,5,6
Studied support
There have been several clinical studies of natto for bone support.†
- One study compared bioavailability and absorption rates between vitamin K2 and vitamin K1. For six weeks participants received either vitamin K1 or vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7). Then, researchers compared blood levels of vitamin K between the two groups. They found that participants who took natural vitamin K2 had much higher blood levels of vitamin K compared those receiving K1.† 7
- Menaquinone-7 levels between 3 groups of women were compared as well. The three groups included:
- Japanese women living in Tokyo, where consumption of natural vitamin K2 is frequent and the amounts are high.
- Japanese women living in Hiroshima, where vitamin K2 consumption is lower and less often.
- Women living in Great Britain (where vitamin K2 consumption is virtually non-existent.
As could be expected, women in Tokyo had the highest vitamin K2 levels--and experienced the greatest support for bone health, too.†8
Doctor Designed Supplementation
Both supplements were designed in cooperation with Alan R. Gaby, M.D., an expert on bone health: “Menaquinone-7 is one of the most promising nutrients for bone health to come along in the past 25 years,” said Alan R. Gaby, M.D.†
Critical Cellular Support†
Now, new research suggests that vitamin K may support critical immune health as well.†
A single-center study designed as a 2-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial found that vitamin K supplementation may have critical cellular support—one more reason your patients would want vitamin K in their corner.†9
Long overdue status
While vitamin D is finally getting the full honors it deserves—it’s tough to avoid the positive studies associated with this one-time “everyday” nutrient—now, vitamin K finally seems to be getting its due as well. It’s up to you to make sure that your patients benefit from this important nutrient.
MenaQ7™ is a trademark of Natto Pharma, Norway
- Plaza SM, Lamson DW. Vitamin K2 in bone metabolism and osteoporosis. Altern Med Rev. 2005;10:24-35.
- Braam LA, Knapen MH, Geusens P, Brouns F, Hamulyák K, Gerichhausen MJ, Vermeer C. Vitamin K1 supplementation retards bone loss in postmenopausal women between 50 and 60 years of age. Calcif Tissue Int. 2003;73(1):21-6
- Craciun AM, Wolf J, Knapen MH, Brouns F, Vermeer C. Improved bone metabolism in female elite athletes after vitamin K supplementation. Int J Sports Med. 1998;19:479-84. [involved 8 athletes]
- Feskanich D, Weber P, Willett WC, Rockett H, Booth SL, Colditz GA. Vitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:74-9.
- Kaneki M, Hedges SJ, Hosoi T, et al. Japanese fermented soybean food as the major determinant of the large geographic difference in circulating levels of vitamin K2: possible implications for hip-fracture risk. Nutrition. 2001;17:315-21.
- Tsukamoto Y, Ichise H, Kakuda H, Yamaguchi M. Intake of fermented soybean (natto) increases circulating vitamin K2(menaquinone-7) and gamma-carboxylated osteocalcin concentration in normal individuals. J Bone Miner Metab. 2000;18:216-22.
- Vermeer C, Shearer MJ, Zittermann A, et al. Beyond deficiency: potential benefits of increased intakes of vitamin K for bone and vascular health. Eur J Nutr. 2004;43:325-35. Epub 2004 Feb 5.
- Kaneki M, Hedges SJ, Hosoi T, et al. Japanese fermented soybean food as the major determinant of the large geographic difference in circulating levels of vitamin K2: possible implications for hip-fracture risk. Nutrition. 2001;17:315-21.
- Cheung AM, Tile L, Lee Y, Tomlinson G, Hawker G, Scher J, Hu H, Vieth R, Thompson L, Jamal S, Josse R. Vitamin K supplementation in postmenopausal women with osteopenia (ECKO Trial): A randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2008: 14;5(10):e196.
Published December 28, 2011