Vitamin K & K2 - The missing element

Vitamin K is a group of structurally similar vitamins which are essential for our body.
The most important forms are Vitamin K1, K2 MK-4 and K2 MK-7, each of those have different effects.
The most known form is K1, which is mainly involved in proper blood clotting.
It is found in green vegetables and since it is a fat-soluble vitamin, adding some oils will enhance the absorption.

All of those natural forms (excluding synthetic ones like K3 which is harmful form) are safe and should not cause any issues in healthy individuals.

Vitamin K has many benefits which we often miss because of our poor nutrition.
Our diet is lacking in very important K2 forms.
The richest food source of K2 especially MK-7 is Natto which is quite popular in Japan, it isn't anywhere else though. Also Natto isn't perfect it contains high amounts of Tyramine as well, however if we don't take MAO inhibitors it shouldn't affect us that much.

K2 is produced in our guts by our friendly bacteria but we don't absorb most of it, also those amounts aren't enough to get all the benefits we could. It is caused because it is produced in very low parts of our guts where we do not absorb those things, the same as with Vitamin B12.

K2 forms are very beneficial for our cardiovascular health and bones.
It protects our arteries against calcification and even it takes out the calcium from our arteries and put it in right place which is bones. It affects not only arteries but probably every organ in our body.

Taking calcium alone with low status of boron, magnesium, vitamin D3 and K2 will lead to arterial calcification and bones won't obtain most of the calcium we would take.
Without Vitamin K2 calcium goes in our veins and nothing takes it down so it stays in arteries leading to the issues mentioned above.

Higher levels of Vitamin K are linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and prostate cancer.

Vitamin K2 MK-4 is used by our body very quick thus it lasts about up to 8 hours in our body, so it requires higher and more frequent doses.

MK-7 form and its biological half-life is even 72 hours which makes supplementation cheaper and more efficient.

Doses used to reverse calcification were 180 µg so I assume it is the minimum dose for people with existing plaques. For healthy individuals or less severe cases lower doses might be enough.

If you are taking anticoagulants do not take vitamin K supplements without consultation with your doctor.

Taking Vitamin K in healthy individuals is not linked to higher risk of clotting.

I recommend Life Extension - Super K with Advanced K2 Complex this product contains 200 µg of MK-7, 1000 µg of MK-4 and 1000 µg of K1 which makes it a really potent supplement.

Vitacost - Ultra Vitamin K with Advanced K2 Complex

As we know or not, Vitamin K2 is essential in putting calcium in right places, like bones or teeth instead of our arteries or any other organs.
I have chosen this product because of economical reasons.
It is an affordable complex of Vitamin(s) K which is K1, K2 MK-4 and MK-7 where MK-7 is better in the way of its long half-life in our body which is more than 24 hours in comparison with MK-4 which is about a couple of hours. Both work differently though, thus it is good to supply both forms.
MK-4 form is more beneficial but short half-life makes it expensive and more frequent dosing is required.

Those vitamins are important for our cardiovascular health because they (MK-4 & MK-7) take calcium out from our arteries and send it to the bones.

It is very important to add Vitamin K2 (preferably MK-7) when we are taking Vitamin D3.


There is not many products which offer all of the listed vitamins above together.
Many products available offer just one of each vitamins in higher prices.

1 Softgel contains:

• 100 µg (mcg) of K2 MK-7
• 1000 µg of K2 MK-4
• 1000 µg of K1

100 µg of MK-7 seems to be an okay dose for preventive benefits for a healthy individual but if you do have artery plaques already, doses like 200 µg and more might be required. 

Taking Vitamin K may cause insomnia or heart palpitations, those reactions are rare and in my case everything is totally fine, also side effects even if occur are rather harmless.

People taking warfarin or any other anticoagulant should talk with a health care professional.

This seems to be good value for money but there is one disadvantage of this product which is caramel in the ingredients. I don't mind about pill colours (anybody does ?) and when I buy supplements I want them to improve my health and I don't understand putting harmful ingredients to any dietary supplements which are suppose to be good for us.

Despite that fact, I was taking this supplement for about a year and soon I am switching to a different brand.
However if someone is looking for good and cheap Vitamin K Complex this product is good and I would recommend it.

Vitacost - Ultra Vitamin K with Advanced K2 Complex costs about $11.69

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