Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7)

Overview of the Role and Application of Vitamin K2 (MK-7) 1. Overview Vitamin K2 (MK-7), also known as menaquinone-7, is an important member of the vitamin K family. It is a fat-soluble vitamin primarily synthesized by gut microbiota and obtained from fermented foods such as natto, curd, and cheese, and is also found in high concentrations in animal livers. This review will explore its role in cardiovascular health, bone health, and children’s health based on existing data, and analyze its application in food, health products, and other fields.

Cardiovascular health
Core role: MK-7 plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular health, primarily by activating Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 is a key regulator of MGP, capable of inhibiting vascular calcification.
Supplementary Effects: Studies have shown that supplementation with vitamin K2 and D3 can reduce the levels of dephosphorylated uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP), which serves as a biomarker for vitamin K2 status. In a subgroup study of the AVADEC clinical trial, for patients with baseline coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores higher than 400 AU, supplementation with vitamin K2 and D3 demonstrated an effect in slowing down the progression of CAC.

Cardiovascular health
Core role: MK-7 plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular health, primarily by activating Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 is a key regulator of MGP, capable of inhibiting vascular calcification.
Supplementary Effects: Studies have shown that supplementation with vitamin K2 and D3 can reduce the levels of dephosphorylated uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP), which serves as a biomarker for vitamin K2 status. In a subgroup study of the AVADEC clinical trial, for patients with baseline coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores higher than 400 AU, supplementation with vitamin K2 and D3 demonstrated an effect in slowing down the progression of CAC.

Application of Product Form and Dosage Form
Main forms: There are primarily two product forms of vitamin K2 (MK-7): oil and powder.
Production process: The typical process flow includes sterilization, fermentation, membrane filtration and concentration, extraction, filtration sterilization, followed by the option of direct packaging as an oil formulation or packaging as a powder formulation after drying.
Product Specifications: There are various specifications available in the market, such as the previously mentioned MK-7 1000PPM, 2000PPM, and 4500PPM. An SDS document from Nugene Pharma indicates that the purity of its “Vitamin K2 MK-7” is ≥98%, and it is recommended for use in food and dietary ingredients.

Application Fields
Health food and nutritional supplements: Primarily used to assist in calcium supplementation and prevent osteoporosis.
Formula food for special medical purposes: The mind map mentions ARA (arachidonic acid) as a potential customer for “infant formula milk powder”, suggesting the potential application of similar functional ingredients in the field of infant and young children’s food.
Beverage: Applied to sports drinks, it aids in improving issues such as muscle spasms.

Children’s health
Promoting development: Research data indicates that vitamin K2 plays a positive role in the healthy development of children’s bones and cardiovascular systems.