Kappa Bioscience’s K2Vital Delta supplement better for deficiencies than “diet alone,” flags study

27 Mar 2023 --- Supplementation with vitamin K2 menaquinone-7 may be more effective in improving vitamin K status than a vitamin K-rich diet for people susceptible to vitamin K deficiency, according to a new study which utilized Kappa Bioscience’s K2 MK-7 solution, K2Vital Delta.

NutritionInsight speaks with Lena Leder, manager of science and content at Kappa Bioscience about the many studies on the efficacy of the company’s 2 MK-7 offering.

“There are several studies in the pipeline – and some already in progress – that investigate the effect of the vitamin K2 supplementation both in healthy individuals, as well as those with medical conditions,” explains Leder.

“For example, there is an InterVitaminK study currently in progress by the Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen, examining the effect of MK-7 supplementation on cardiovascular, metabolic and bone health. The study, which is still ongoing, will investigate the effect vitamin K supplementation might play in reducing the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC).”

Consistent findings
The most recent study, published in the International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease, included 10 patients with chronic kidney disease who were currently undergoing dialysis, as those suffering from kidney diseases are often vitamin K2 deficient.

The researchers divided the intervention into two parts. For six weeks the participants took one  360 μg MK-7 tablet per day. After that they had a three week washout period followed by six more weeks of a vitamin K rich diet. 

K2 MK-7 has been shown to combat some of the bone density issues related to menopause.The results looked for changes in matrix Gla protein (MGP) and osteocalcin (OC) – biomarkers for K2 MK-7 absorption – and a significant decrease in OC during the K2Vital Delta segment of the trial, though it found no noticeable difference in MGP levels for either leg of the trial, meaning that diet alone might not be the best way to treat these patients.

“This randomized, crossover study may have been small, but the findings suggest that diet alone is not enough to correct vitamin K levels in individuals with chronic kidney disease,” says Ditte Hansen, associate professor and specialist in nephrology at the University of Copenhagen.

“The pilot study provides promising insights for future developments in the vitamin K space, and suggests that for those who are susceptible to inadequate levels of vitamin K, supplementation may be of importance.”

Continuing research
Vitamin K2 has been shown to aid in bone strength, menopause-related bone density problems and heart and cardiovascular health. According to Leder, the company will continue to invest in research on the K2 MK-7’s health benefits.

“There’s also a ‘takeover’ study currently underway by researchers at the University of Glasgow, investigating the effects of vitamin K2 on recovery from muscle damaging exercise in both young and older adults,” Leder concludes. 

“We’re excited to see how the insights from this study might open up new opportunities for vitamin K2 product innovation in the active nutrition space as K2Vital Delta is the world’s only patented microencapsulated vitamin K2 preparation, and is designed to deliver unmatched purity and stability in mineral-containing formulations.”

By William Bradford Nichols