Vitamin K2 is Key To Supporting Bone And Cardiovascular Health, Study Reveals

17 Aug 2016 --- A new research paper has revealed that Vitamin K2, along with calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, is essential in supporting strong bones and healthy arteries.

The paper, titled, “Nutritional strategies for skeletal and cardiovascular health: hard bones, soft arteries, rather than vice versa,” cites a US Surgeon General’s Report that states that one in two Americans over age 50 is expected to have or to be at risk of developing osteoporosis. Additionally, it cites a Mayo Clinic study that shows how from 30 years ago, forearm fractures have risen more than 32% in boys and 56% in girls.

The paper leads on from the strong epidemiological associations that exist between decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease.

It looks at data, which shows that individuals with osteoporosis have a higher risk of coronary artery disease, and vice versa. This problem will be magnified, according to the paper, if the therapies for osteoporosis, such as calcium supplements, independently increase risk of myocardial infarction.

The authors conducted a comprehensive and systematic review of the scientific literature to determine the optimal dietary strategies and nutritional supplements for long-term skeletal health and cardiovascular health.

The research concluded that to build strong bones and maintain soft and supple arteries, consumers must obtain calcium from dietary sources, consume fruit and vegetables regularly, increase potassium consumption while reducing sodium intake, maintain vitamin D levels in the normal range, and increase the intake of foods rich in vitamins K1 and K2.

However, a meta-analysis concluded that while supplementation with vitamin K1, improved bone health, Vitamin K2 was even more effective in this regard. 

This meta-analysis also concluded that high Vitamin K2 levels were associated with reduced vertebral fractures by approximately 60%, hip fractures by 77% and all non-vertebral fractures by approximately 81%. Supplementation with Vitamin K2 as MK-7 increased bone strength in postmenopausal women in three-year clinical study.

Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, said, “We are gratified, but not surprised, that our three-year clinical studies were cited in this paper.” 

Dr. Vik continues, “NattoPharma has driven the clinical research that has demonstrated Vitamin K2’s benefits for human health, and our breakthrough studies provided the first intervention data confirming the associations that observational studies made previously, which is that vitamin K2 as MK-7 is available beyond the liver to support bone and cardiovascular health. And it does this by activating proteins that help the body to properly utilize calcium – there by simultaneously supporting both skeletal and cardiovascular health.”

However, Dr. Vik explains consuming sufficient amounts of vitamin K2 through a European or US diet is difficult, explaining, “The only food that contains enough Vitamin K2 is the Japanese dish Natto. This means that if you want to get enough vitamin K2 into your body, then you have to take dietary supplements or functional foods containing Vitamin K2.”