Introduction
In the 1920s, Danish scientist Henrik Damm first discovered fat-soluble coagulation vitamins. It was called “Koagulations vitamin” when it was published in a German magazine. Since then, people have named this type of vitamin “vitamin K.”
Natural vitamin K, divided into vitamins K1 and K2, is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Natural vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is widely present in green plants and has a low utilization rate. After entering the human body, K1 mainly accumulates in the liver and produces blood coagulation substances.
The main food sources of vitamin K2 powder are natto and cheese. Each 100 grams of natto contains 900 to 1200 μg of vitamin K2. After entering the human body, K2 is mainly found in various parts of the body outside the liver. It allows calcium to return to its correct location, protects nerves, regulates blood sugar, and reduces cancer.
Vitamin K2 Powder Types: Which One Is Better?
Depending on the length of the tail chain, K2 is divided into subcategories such as MK-4, MK-7, MK-8, and MK-10. Among them, the most important ones are MK-4 and MK-7.
Menaquinone 4 is primarily found in animal products, including organ meats, egg yolks, and animal fats. Menaquinone 7 mainly comes from fermented foods, especially natto.
In July 2017, the United States Pharmacopoeia Commission (USPC) published the “Safety Evaluation of MK-7 (Vitamin K2) by the United States Pharmacopeia Commission”, which concluded that MK-7 has superior bioavailability and is better than MK-4.
Related Apply regulations Of Vitamin K
ESFA Regulations On Vitamin K2
- 2009/345/EC: Approved as a new food ingredient, marked as “Menaquinone” or “Vitamin K2” on food labels.
- (EC) No 1170/2009: Vitamin K2 Menaquinone-7 is included in the list of vitamins and minerals that may be added to foods and dietary supplements. It indicates that the ingredient can be added to food and dietary supplements.
- (EU) 609/2013: Menaquinone may be used in food for special medical purposes. Complete meal replacement for weight management.
- (EU) No 432/2012: Health claims: MK-7 has been included in CosIng, the European Commission’s cosmetic substance and ingredient information database. Function: ANTI-SEBUM anti-sebum, clear fat; ASTRINGENT astringent (lotion); BLEACHING bleaching; SKIN PROTECTING skin protection; UV FILTER ultraviolet absorber.
FDA Regulations On Vitamin K2
- GRN No.887: MK-7 (fermented) may be used as a nutrient in nutritional supplements as specified in 21 CFR 170.3(o)(20).
- USP Dietary Supplement USP43-NF38 (pure/combination).
Vitamin K2 Benefits
- Vitamin K2 can fight osteoporosis.
The human body reaches the stage of obtaining the highest bone mass in its life around the age of 30-35 and then gradually decreases. Women enter a period of rapid bone loss after the age of 40, and men after the age of 60. Good calcium absorption and correct calcium guidance are key to effective calcium supplementation.
In bone, osteocalcin secreted by osteoblasts is activated by vitamin K. Carboxylated osteocalcin can capture calcium ions, combine with calcium ions, and deposit them in bone tissue, promoting bone mineralization and introducing calcium into the bone.
Vitamin K2 powder can activate osteocalcin and lock calcium ions. This ingredient carboxylates glutamic acid residues in osteocalcin to activate osteocalcin and promote bone mineral salt deposition. It increases osteoblast activity and promotes bone formation. At the same time, it inhibits the activity of osteoclasts and reduces bone resorption.
- Vitamin K2 promotes cardiovascular health.
Vascular calcification is a common pathogenic mechanism of chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetic vascular disease.
First of all, vitamin K2 leads calcium to bones in an orderly manner, reducing wrong deposition, thereby helping to prevent excess blood calcium and inhibit vascular calcification.
In addition, vitamin K2 can activate the matrix GLA protein synthesized by vascular smooth muscle cells, capture calcium ions deposited in blood vessels, and promptly clean up the calcium deposited in blood vessels, thereby preventing the occurrence of vascular calcification.
- Vitamin K2 maintains overall human health.
For example, in the human liver, Vitamin K2 supports liver regeneration, promotes blood clotting, and aids recovery from alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis. In the brain, it can protect neurons and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In adipose tissue, it improves body weight and composition, inhibits adipocyte proliferation, and more.
Vitamin K2 Powder Dosage
According to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements statistics, the reference intake of Vitamin K2 for U.S. residents is as follows.
- 0-0.5 years old: 2μg/d
- 0.5-1 years old: 2.5μg/d
- 1-4 years old: 30μg/d
- 4-9 years old: 55μg/d
- 9-14 years old: 60μg/d
- 14-19 years old: 75μg/d
- Over 19 years old: Men can take 120μg/d of Vitamin K2, and women may take 90μg/d.
According to the scientific recommendations of EFSA and NDA nutrition intake, the human body’s intake of VitaminK2,
- 0.5-1 years old: 10μg/d
- 1-4 years old: 12μg/d
- 4-7 years old: 20μg/d
- 7-11 years old: 30μg/d
- 11-15 years old: 45μg/d
- 15-18 years old: 65μg/d
- Over 18 years old, 70μg/d
In addition, pregnant women and lactating women are recommended to consume 70μg/d. It’s enough.
Conclusion
Natural Vitamin K is divided into Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2. Among them, VK2 also has various types, such as vitamin K2 menaquinone 7, menaquinone 4, etc. And MK-7 has superior bioavailability and is better than MK-4. Therefore, Nutri Avenue recommends Vitamin K 2 menaquinone 7 to fight osteoporosis, promote cardiovascular health, and maintain overall human health.
