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History

Vitamin K was discovered in 1929. The Danish scientist Henrik Dam and colleagues were investigating the role of dietary cholesterol by feeding chickens a diet without fat. After several weeks the animals started to suffer from frequent bleedings. This could not be stopped by adding cholesterol to the diet, so Dam postulated that – together with fat – there had to be another compound in the diet that prevented the bleedings. After years of research he found a factor in hempseed that prevented bleeding, and decided to call it the coagulation vitamin. It was designated in German as “Koagulations” vitamin and that is how the new vitamin got the letter K.

This monumental discovery of Vitamin K earned Professors Henrik Dam and Edward Doisy the Nobel Prize in 1943.

1975

Esmon et al. published the mechanism of action of vitamin K and identified the vitamin K cycle as vital for the activity of carboxylase enzyme.

1989

Vermeer et al. published that vitamin K deficiency influences the ratio of serum uncarboxylated to carboxylated osteocalcin.  

1997

Sokoll et al. published that the US dietary vitamin K intake is not sufficient to fully carboxylate osteocalcin.

2001

Schurgers et al. published that inhibition of vitamin K-dependent carboxylation of MGP promotes vascular calcification.

2006

Tsugawa et al. published that MK-7 is the vitamin K form found in serum of women with reduced risk of bone fractures. Later that year Ikeda et al. published that intake of MK-7 is associated with reduced bone loss in post menopausal women in a population-based study (JPOS study).

2007

Schurgers et al. used rats to demonstrate that that arterial calcification and the resulting decreased arterial distensibility are reversible by high intake of vitamin K.

2008

Nimptsch et al. published a large population-based study showing that consuming dairy products containing higher menaquinones like MK-7 reduces the risk of prostate cancer substantially. No such reduction was observed with vitamin K1-containing food. Later, van Summeren et al. showed that a better vitamin K status was associated with more pronounced increase in bone mass in healthy children.

2009

Beulens et al. found among 564 post-menopausal women that intake of Vitamin K2 – but not vitamin K1 – was associated with reduced coronary calcification, and that adequate Vitamin K2 intake could be important for prevention of cardiovascular disease. Shortly thereafter van Summeren et al. demonstrated that modest MK-7 supplementation increases circulating concentrations of MK-7 and increases osteocalcin carboxylation in healthy children, while Gast et al. found that a high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease.

2012

Westenfeld et al. confirmed that most hemodialysis patients have a functional vitamin K deficiency. More importantly, they found that inactive MGP levels can be decreased markedly by daily Vitamin K(2) supplementation.

2013

Knapen et al. showed that after three years of supplementation of 180 mcg Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (MenaQ7®) daily, improvements in both bone mineral content and bone mineral density were statistically significant in the MenaQ7® group. Moreover, bone strength was statistically improved. Later that year Theuwissen et al. established the vitamin K status across age groups based on circulating levels of ucOC and dp-ucMGP, i.e. markers for the vitamin K status of bone and the vasculature, respectively. Accordingly, the study classified healthy children and adults above 40 years as groups with prominent vitamin K deficiency and thus appropriate groups for vitamin K supplementation.

2015

Knapen et al. published the first double-blind, randomized, intervention trial where the results confirm that Vitamin K2 intake is linked to cardiovascular risk. Researchers found that, after three years of daily supplementation with 180 mcg Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7®),  it not only inhibited age-related stiffening of the artery walls, but also made a statistically significant improvement of vascular elasticity, especially in women having high arterial stiffness. To date, the effects of increased menaquinone intake on markers of vascular health have been investigated using predominantly food supplements. Therefore, Knapen et al. sought to study the effects of a menaquinone-fortified yogurt drink (as MenaQ7®) on vitamin K status and markers of vascular health in healthy men and postmenopausal women. Results showed MK-7 was efficiently absorbed from the fortified yogurt drink, improving vitamin K status, which contributed to improved cardiovascular health.

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MenaQ7 study with children

45 mcg per day of vitamin K2 was shown to support the needs of healthy bones in children

Growing Strong Bones

Childhood is the most essential period for developing and building healthy bone mass.
However, research shows children have 8 to 10 times higher levels of inactive osteocalcin, which means they are not optimally building the bone mass they require during this period.[3]

In turn, today we see an increase in low-energy fractures in children. Thankfully there is a way to mitigate this situation.

Studies show that children who have optimal levels of Vitamins K2 and D3 have fewer bone fractures than children with lower status of these two vitamins. [4,5]

MenaQ7® is the only Vitamin K2 on the market proven to benefit bone health in children.

[3] Theuwissen E et al. Food & Function. 2013;5(2):229-34
[4] Popko J et al. Nutrients. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):734.
[5] Karpiński M et al. J Am Coll Nutr. 2017 Jan;36(1):64-71

MenaQ7® study show

180 mcg per day of vitamin K2 maintain bone health in postmenopausal women

Well-Being in Times of Change

It is well recognized that women approaching and going through menopause are prone to develop weaker bones.

During this period, hormonal changes lower oestrogen levels, leading to bone loss and increased fracture risk.

Compromised bone health is estimated to affect 200 million women worldwide. Supporting bone health in women during this period of life is growing in importance, particularly as an ageing population seeks to maintain their quality of life.

The combination of Vitamins K2 and D3 is shown to have a more beneficial effect on this demographic’s bone strength than either vitamin taken alone.[5]

MenaQ7® is the only clinically proven K2 to deliver on the promise of maintaining bone health in postmenopausal women.[2]

[5] Ushiroyama T et al. Maturitas. 202 Mar 25;41(3):211-21.
[2] Knapen MHJ et al. Osteoporos Int. 2013 Sep;24(9):2499-507.

Supporting Mothers for Healthy Babies

Pregnancy is a time of extraordinary change and the WHO estimates 20-30% of pregnant women suffer from some kind of vitamin deficiency. Post-natal supplements are important for many women during this period of their lives to ensure not only their health, but their babies as well.

In particular, pregnant women are advised to increase their calcium levels to support the growing babies’ bone and teeth – and to maintain the mothers own bone mass, which is depleted during pregnancy and nursing.

Research shows that women's bone metabolic status significantly changes over the period between pregnancy and during nursing [6], and as much as 50% of newborns are K deficient. Incorporating Vitamins K2 with D3 in post-natal supplements would benefit both mother and child through their combined optimization of calcium.

[6] Miyamoto T et al. Sci Rep. 2019 May 13;9(1):6787.

MenaQ7® study show

180 mcg per day is beneficial for bone and cardiovascular health.

Do What You Love Longer!

Calcification is believed to be an inevitable and unfortunate result of aging, but studies show that arterial calcification is, in fact, an actively regulated process where Vitamins K2 and D3 play a critical role.

In 2020 the ageing population (people over the age of 65) grew to approximately 727 million. Supporting bone and heart health is vitalto ensure quality of life as we age.

A 2013 study [8] evaluating the cardiovascular effect of Vitamin K2 (MenaQ7®) plus Vitamin D or Vitamin D alone showed more beneficial results when the two nutrients were combined than when D was taken alone.

MenaQ7® is the only clinically Vitamin K2 as MK-7 proven to reduce arterial stiffness in adult populations.[9]

[8] Kurnatowska I et al. Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2015;125(9):631-40.
[9] Knapen MHJ et al. Thromb and Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44.

 

Active Lifestylers

The bone and joint market is still expected to be driven by aging populations, but trends like Healthy Aging and Fitter for Longer open the market for younger demographics. Since 2000, views have drastically evolved about the importance of staying active and the role bone/joint health plays in one’s ability to do so.

Bone fractures are an obvious hindrance to staying active. In fact, every 3rd woman and every 5th man over the age of 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures. It is also worth noting that young female athletes have higher fracture risks than male counterparts.

Knowing the intricate balance between Vitamins D3 and K2, and its combined benefits for bone and heart health, a product that aims to support active lifestylers should incorporate both.