FAQ

Vitamin K2 has been shown to support bone and cardiovascular health through its activation of the vitamin K-dependent proteins Osteocalcin and Matrix GLA, respectively. MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 has specifically undergone multiple clinical trials proving it effectively delivers these benefits.

Several published studies show how MenaQ7® can benefit and support bone and cardiovascular health. Most notably, results of the double-blind, randomized, clinical trial (published in Osteoporosis International 2013) showed that, when taken daily in nutritional doses of 180 mcg for three years, MenaQ7® improves bone mineral density and bone strength. Further, a cardiovascular arm of this study (published in Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2015) also confirmed MenaQ7®’s positive effect on cardiovascular health – namely by not only inhibiting age-related stiffening of the artery walls, but also making a statistically significant improvement of vascular elasticity, especially in women with high areterial stiffness. Arterial stiffening is a recognized factor for its impact on cardiovascular health.

MenaQ7® is the only clinically validated and patented Vitamin K2 as MK-7 available in the market. NattoPharma, global supplier of MenaQ7®, is the only company with a long-term clinical study program evaluating the therapeutic effects of Vitamin K2. The company has an R&D partnership with the University of Maastricht and as VitaK, both in the Netherlands, as well as leaders in vitamin K research.

MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 products thus differ from other Vitamin K2 products by being clinically documented for both bone and cardiovascular health.

NattoPharma, the makers of MenaQ7®, strongly focuses on Intellectual Property Rights and is presently securing IP for use of MK-7 in interesting clinical fields supported by studies to make further documentation of the positive effects of MenaQ7®.

Having dedicated production facilities, and constantly innovating and updating procedures has resulted in numerous high-quality certificates, ensuring good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) and full regulatory compliance.

The current Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin K has been traditionally based on hepatic requirements for normal coagulation activity only. Clinical studies now show that this RDA probably is too low for optimal bone and cardiovascular health. Despite this, no officially recognized adjusted Vitamin K2 RDA has yet been published.

Our initial recommendation of a daily intake of at least 45 mcg was based upon a Dutch population-based study known as the Rotterdam Study (Geleijnse et al, 2004). However, present research is available to provide guidance for recommended dose of Vitamin K2:

• A study by van Summeren et al (2009) demonstrated that in healthy children, a modest supplement of 45 mcg MenaQ7® daily increases circulating concentrations of MK-7 and the activation of the vitamin K-dependent protein Osteocalcin.
• The primary objective of our dose-finding study by Theuwissen et al (2012) was to observe the dose-response effects of extra intake of MK-7 on the carboxylation of the extra-hepatic Gla- proteins, Osteocalcin and Matrix Gla. MK-7 supplementation at doses around the RDA for Vitamin K, improved the carboxylation, or activation, of these vitamin K-dependent proteins, however, not optimally. Based upon this study a daily intake of 180 mcg could be recommended.
• A randomized trial (Westenfield et al, 2012) confirmed that most hemodialysis patients have a functional vitamin K deficiency, which can be treated effectively with MenaQ7® supplementation in the highest dose of 360 mcg daily.
• The clinical trial by Knapen et al (2013) showed that when apparently healthy postmenopausal women took daily nutritional doses (180 mcg) of MenaQ7® over three years, bone mineral density and bone strength were improved. The cardiovascular arm of this study, published in Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2015), also demonstrated cardiovascular health benefits.

Supplements featuring MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 can be found in many markets across the globe, both in brick-and-mortar stores and online. Visit  Buy MenaQ7® for a list of products available in your particular country, as well as websites where they can be purchased.

The only contraindication is the use of coumarin/warfarin derivatives as oral anticoagulants (OAC). These drugs are vitamin K antagonists and one has to be careful taking vitamin K supplements when taking vitamin K antagonists. We recommend that patients receiving OAC treatment do not take MK-7 supplements without consulting their medical doctor. Fortunately, we see that a new generation of OACs becoming available (although not yet in every country), i.e. the direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors. According to present knowledge, these drugs can be combined with vitamin K.

MenaQ7® has attained Novel Food status. All nutrients and excipients used to manufacture MenaQ7® are food grade and of the highest quality.

Vitamin D3 is an excellent combination ingredient for Vitamin K2 in supplements seeking to promote bone health. Vitamin K2 works in conjunction with Vitamin D3 to increase the cellular synthesis of osteocalcin and uptake of calcium. An optimal combination product is thus MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 and Vitamin D3 paired with Calcium.

As MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin, it can also be combined with omega-3 fish oils. MenaQ7® has proven stable in omega-3 products such as fish oil and salmon oil that may contribute to the normal function of the heart and good cardiovascular health.

Studies show that both adults and children are vitamin K deficient. This seems to correlate with the declining dietary intake of Vitamin K2. Bone tissue grows and develops intensively during childhood and adolescence, and children have the greatest requirement for active Osteocalcin and vitamin K. The most widely recommended Vitamin K2 dose today for children is 45 mcg daily, a dose clinically proven to increase the carboxylation, or activation, of Osteocalcin. However, future studies will show if especially growing children need additional Vitamin K2 in their diets.