Vitamin K2 MK-7 Gold

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that cannot be built by the body, so it must be obtained through diet or supplementation. Vitamin K facilitates calcium absorption for strong bones, encourages positive heart and kidney function, and supports healthy aging. The three forms of vitamin K are vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), vitamin K2 (menaquinone), and vitamin K3 (menaphthone).

Vitamin K3 is a synthetic form of vitamin K that can cause liver toxicity and is not available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin K1 is synthesized by plants and is known as a plant source of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 is present in relatively high amounts in green, leafy vegetables (e.g. kale, spinach) and most individuals get some amount of vitamin K1 from their diet. However, vitamin K1 is not as biologically active as vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 (as MK-4) is the most common form of K2 in animal products, but it is in synthetic form in supplements.

The problem with MK-4 is that it has a very short half-life in the body (about 1 hour), which means frequent supplementation is required to maintain adequate vitamin K2 levels. Vitamin K2 (as MK-7) is the most bioavailable and biologically active form of vitamin K2. This form of K2 is naturally present in high amounts in the Japanese food, natto, which is made with fermented soybeans. MK-7 has the highest biological half-life, which means it is available for use by the body over a longer period of time and ensures consistent blood levels of the vitamin.