Supplement
Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is a form of vitamin K that activates proteins, such as osteocalcin in bone, which help direct calcium where the body needs it. The evidence is strongest for bone health: trials found much less inactive osteocalcin, and bone density in the spine and femoral neck declined less than with placebo. Still, the evidence for bone density is moderate, and the studies were moderate in size.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 11 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 10
- Graded outcomes
- 1621
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osteocalcin Carboxylation 50% reduction in ucOC at 180 mcg/day | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 450 people | |||
| Bone Mineral Density (Lumbar) Significantly decreased age-related BMD decline | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 600 people | |||
| Bone Mineral Density (Femoral Neck) Reduced bone loss vs placebo | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 400 people | |||
| Bone Strength Improved femoral neck strength after 3 years | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 244 people | |||
| Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture Prevented age-related deterioration at tibia | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 200 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arterial Stiffness Improved vascular elasticity after 3 years | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 350 people | |||
| Pulse Wave Velocity Suppressed age-related PWV increase | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 244 people | |||
| Matrix Gla Protein Carboxylation Significant reduction in dp-ucMGP | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 400 people | |||
| Coronary Artery Calcification Mixed results, may slow progression | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 150 people | |||
| Aortic Valve Calcification No significant effect at 720 mcg/day | NoneNo effect | 200 people |
What the published studies found
1 automated reading
Cardiovascular events
The 4 studies read (939 people in all) mostly found little or no difference in cardiovascular events. The evidence is limited.
4 studies counted of 9 read: 4 trials (939 people in the trials).
- Randomised trial, 2023; 304 people; men with no ischemic heart disease: improves.
Safety events were fewer in participants receiving supplementation
Effects of Vitamin K2 and D Supplementation on Coronary Artery Disease in Men: A RCT - Randomised trial, 2023; 138 people: no clear difference.
MACE and mortality was not statistically different
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the Effect of Treatment with Vitamin K2 on Vascular Calcification in Hemodialysis Patients (Trevasc-HDK) - Randomised trial, 2022; 365 people; men with aortic valve calcification: no clear difference.
or cardiovascular events (10 versus 10 patients; P=0.99)
Vitamin K2 and D in Patients With Aortic Valve Calcification: A Randomized Double-Blinded Clinical Trial - Randomised trial, 2020; 132 people; hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation: no clear difference. Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Vitamin K Antagonist Replacement by Rivaroxaban with or without Vitamin K2 in Hemodialysis Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: the Valkyrie Study
- Randomised trial, 2023; 304 people; men with no ischemic heart disease: improves.
Key findings
- Osteocalcin CarboxylationImproves (the measure goes up)
- Bone Mineral Density (Lumbar)Improves (the measure goes up)
- Bone Mineral Density (Femoral Neck)Improves (the measure goes up)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Vitamin K2 (MK-7) products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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Studies cited
11 studies from PubMed
- Effect of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
- Vitamin K2 and D in Patients With Aortic Valve Calcification: A Randomized Double-Blinded Clinical Trial
- Molecular Pathways and Roles for Vitamin K2-7 as a Health-Beneficial Nutraceutical: Challenges and Opportunities
- The effect of vitamin MK-7 on bone mineral density and microarchitecture in postmenopausal women with osteopenia, a 3-year randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Effect of Low-Dose Vitamin K2 Supplementation on Bone Mineral Density in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese: A Randomized Controlled Study
- Highlighting The Substantial Body Of Evidence Confirming The Importance Of Vitamin K2 As A Cardio-Support Nutrient, And How The Right K2 Makes All The Difference
- MK-7 and Its Effects on Bone Quality and Strength
- Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) prevents age-related deterioration of trabecular bone microarchitecture at the tibia in postmenopausal women
- Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial
- Low-Dose Daily Intake of Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7) Improves Osteocalcin γ-Carboxylation: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trials
- Vitamin K2 supplementation does not influence bone loss in early menopausal women: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial