“Breakthrough” Vitamin K2 Study on Bone and Heart Health

NattoPharma (Oslo, Norway) says its recently completed three-year study offers new insight into a relationship between vitamin K2 and bone and heart health.

In the human clinical trial, 244 postmenopausal women were assigned to 180 μg of MenaQ7 vitamin K2 (from NattoPharma) or placebo daily for three years. Researchers assessed participants for any changes in bone mineral density, bone strength, and stiffening of blood vessels.

After two and three years, researchers observed “clinically relevant” improvements at the femoral neck site of subjects consuming vitamin K2. Bone structures at the vertebrae and hip were also improved with supplementation. Compared to placebo, vitamin K2 also reduced vascular stiffening and improved vascular elasticity.

“Previously, the positive effects on bone and vascular health have been demonstrated with a pharmacological dose of synthetic forms of vitamin K, of up to 45 milligrams per day,” said NattoPharma in a press release. “The MenaQ7 study shows-for the first time in history of vitamin K evaluation-the positive health effects with a nutritional dose of vitamin K. Remarkably, the low-dose MenaQ7 effects were even more pronounced than those in trials using a high dose of one of the synthetic forms of vitamin K.”

Results of the recent vitamin K2 study were presented at this year’s Vitafoods tradeshow in Geneva. The study is now pending peer-reviewed publication.