Vitamin K2 Mk7

Vitamin K2 MK-7, also known as menaquinone-7, is a form of vitamin K2 characterized by a longer side chain consisting of seven isoprene units. It is a fat-soluble vitamin with enhanced bioavailability and a longer half-life (approximately 3-4 days) compared to other forms like vitamin K1 or MK-4, which allows it to maintain more stable levels in the bloodstream and extrahepatic tissues such as bone and arteries.

Appearance: Yellow powder or crystalline form

Solubility: Fat-soluble; slightly soluble in chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol; practically insoluble in water

Melting Point: 54 °C

MK-7 is found mainly in fermented foods like natto and produced by certain gut bacteria. It is absorbed in the small intestine and transported via lipoproteins in the bloodstream. Unlike vitamin K1, MK-7 has a longer half-life (~68 hours), allowing sustained levels in the blood and extrahepatic tissues such as bones and arteries.

Vitamin K2 MK-7 (menaquinone-7) offers several significant health benefits, primarily related to bone and cardiovascular health, along with additional emerging advantages:

1. Bone Health: MK-7 is crucial for activating osteocalcin, a protein that binds calcium to the bone matrix, enhancing bone mineralization and strength. This helps reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.

2. Cardiovascular Health: MK-7 activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which inhibits calcium deposits in arteries, preventing arterial calcification. This supports arterial flexibility, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, and helps maintain healthy blood vessels.

3. Anti-inflammatory Effects: MK-7 modulates inflammatory mediators and cytokines, which contributes to reduced chronic inflammation and supports immune health.

4. Additional Potential Benefits:

   • Emerging evidence suggests benefits in improving insulin sensitivity and possibly aiding in cancer prevention.

   • Clinical and molecular studies indicate MK-7 may help peripheral neuropathy and Alzheimer’s disease through pathways involving gene expression and inflammation regulation.

5. Longer Half-Life and Higher Bioavailability: Compared to other forms like MK-4, MK-7 has a longer half-life in the bloodstream (about 3-4 days), allowing more stable and continuous activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins essential for bone and cardiovascular health.

6. Clinical Evidence: Randomized clinical trials have shown that supplementation with MK-7 improves vascular elasticity, inhibits age-related arterial stiffening, and benefits bone health when taken over months to years.