Q. What is vitamin K2?
A.Vitamin K2 is the collective name for a group of vitamin K compounds called menaquinones, known to influence calcium distribution in the body. Vitamin K2 is found in egg yolk, butter,certain cheeses and abundantly in fermented soybean products such as natto.

Q.What are the benefits of taking vitamin K2?
A.Recently, vitamin K2 has gained much attention for several studies showing that it can strengthen our bones as well as reduce vascular calcification - something that has not before been observed in any other single nutrient.

Q.How does vitamin K2 work?
A.Vitamin K2 has a specific role as cofactor in activating certain so-called Gla-proteins. Osteocalcin is the most abundant Gla-protein in human bones, were Matrix Gla-protein is expressed in cartilage and in the arterial vessel wall. These vitamin K2 dependent Gla proteins specifically address a calcium paradox by promoting bone density, inhibiting bone loss and inhibiting vascular calcification.

Q.How does Vitamin K work in the body?
A.Vitamin K is essential for healthy bone formation and repair; it is involved in the synthesis of osteocalcin, the protein in bone tissue upon which calcium crystallizes. As Vitamin K helps build bones, it also inhibits calcification of the blood vessels. This “calcium transport” function thereby removes calcium deposits from the vessels where they aren’t needed, and working in conjunction with vitamin D, increases calcium deposits in the bones, where calcium is needed most. Vitamin K also plays an important role in the intestines, helping to convert glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver.

Q.How does vitamin K2 inhibit bone loss and increase bone density?
A.In the skeleton the osteoclasts do the bone resorption (the breakdown of bones). When osteoclast activity is too high, loss of calcium from the bone occurs, resulting in fragile bones. This is called osteoporosis. What studies have shown is that when vitamin K2 is abundant in the body, they are absorbed by the osteoclasts, and function as a key to turning off the osteoclast activity. But vitamin K2 does not only stop calcium loss in the bones. It also rebuilds our bone mass. Calcium is captured in our bones mainly via the vitamin K2 dependant Gla protein osteocalcin. In the presence of vitamin K2, osteo-calcin is activated. Once activated, another K2 dependant Gla protein, the osteoblasts lay down the osteocalcin in the bone matrix. In case of osteoporosis, osteocalcin will repair the bone by filling the holes in the bone with calcium. In this way, vitamin K2 works both on the inhibition of bone resorption, bone loss and bone formation.

Q.Does vitamin K2 prevent vascular calcification?
A.The benefits of vitamin K for cardiovascular disease gained attention by a Dutch study called the "Rotterdam study". The study, which involved over 4,800 people over a ten year period, revealed that increased dietary intake of specifically vitamin K2 significantly reduced the risk of CHD mortality by 50 percent as compared to low dietary vitamin K2 intake. These results were confirmed in an animal study in which rats received a diet exhausting their vitamin K stores, resulting in inactive vitamin K-depending proteins leading to the major calcification of their arteries. Vitamin K2 was capable of completely inhibiting arterial calcification. Now, new clinical research carried out by researchers at the University of Maastricht revealed that vitamin K2 can stop the calcification of the arteries and may even reverse it. The new study was published in April 2007 in the American Hematology Society journal Blood.

Q.Are there differences in the quality of vitamin K2 supplements?
A.Yes, some types of vitamin K will only be effective in the body for very short lengths of time (down to 1 hour). K2 is based on Menaquinone 7, the most effective form of vitamin K, which results in a long time of effectiveness (up to three days).

Q.Is vitamin K2 safe?
A.The health authorities recommended that supplementation of vitamin K2 does not exceed 100 mcg daily, as this amount is not likely to interact with blood-thinning medications. The recommended dose of 45mcg of vitamin K2 is well below this threshold, and is a dose that is supported by the literature as effective. But to be safe, please consult your physician, if you take blood thinners.

Q.Why is Vitamin K-2 better than Vitamin K-1?
A. This highly potent form of Vitamin K-2 has comparable benefits to those of K-1, but has higher circulation concentrations in more varied areas of the body. Simply stated, it works harder and it stays at work longer, in more parts of the body than K-1. Supercharged form of Vitamin K-2 made from Natto, a Japanese soy food to give your body more nutrition to build strength. K-2 Synthesizes Osteocalcin for building strong bones, inhibits calcification in blood vessels helping promote healthier blood flow. Supports intestinal health by helping to convert glucose into glycogen in the liver, which may contribute to increasing your energy and the quality of your life.