The skeleton “remodels” itself every 8 to 12 years. Bone remodelling is an ongoing process and it is healthy when it is in balance: when osteoblasts (bone builders) work in concert with osteoclasts (the demolition team) to ensure strong, viable bones with healthy tensile strength. Once the demolition team breaks down more bone than the building team can reconstruct, bones wind up with weak foundations (porosity).
Osteoblasts produce the protein osteocalcin, which must then be activated so that it binds incoming Calcium to bones. Vitamin K2 encourages osteocalcin perform its function, resulting in better, stronger quality bone through time. But when this delicate process is not in balance, bones become weak and brittle, an unfortunate result of Vitamin K2 deficiency.
Clinical studies yield unprecedented results
Not only has MenaQ7 been studied in adult populations, showing a positive effect on bone health, but it has also been studied in child populations, demonstrating the importance of K2 supplementation for building a foundation for bone health.
A leading-edge, double-blind, randomised, clinical trial published in the prestigious Osteoporosis International demonstrated for the first time clinically statistically significant protection of the vertebrae and the hip (femoral neck) against bone loss.1 This was attained with a nutritional dose of Vitamin K2 as MK- 7 (MenaQ7 from NattoPharma) taken daily for 3 years.
In this study of 244 healthy post-menopausal women, the MenaQ7 group took 180 mcg daily and showed significantly decreased circulating uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), a well-established biomarker for bone and vitamin K status. After 3 years, both bone mineral content and bone mineral density, as well as bone strength, were statistically significantly better for the MK-7 group compared to the placebo group.
- Further, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition revealed that daily supplementation with 45-50 mcg of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7 from NattoPharma) may support bone needs from early childhood through the lifespan.2 Monitoring healthy children between 6 and 10 years of age taking 45-50 mcg of MenaQ7 for 2 years resulted in improved vitamin K status as well as stronger, denser bones.
Complementary combinations
When it comes to preserving of bone and heart health, few vitamins are better paired than Vitamins K2 and D3. While K2 is required to activate K-dependent proteins, such as osteocalcin for bone health, D3 is needed for the creation of these proteins. Thus, Vitamins K2 and D3 are an essential combination.
When selecting a Vitamin K2 for your bone health formula, MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is the only one clinically proven to help maintain bone density and strength. MenaQ7 works synergistically Vitamin D3 to help the body properly utilise Calcium.
Find out how MenaQ7 can increase the potential of your product line and how NattoPharma is the perfect partner to bring your finished products to life.
Click here for a video about NattoPharma’s expertise guiding its finished product partners to finding the right MenaQ7 variety for their product goals.
And NattoPharma hopes you will enjoy their webinar “Vitamin K2: The key to securing general health” during the Vitafoods Virtual Expo where they are a sponsor of the Healthy Ageing Micro-community. The company’s webinar is available on- demand starting September 7.
References:
- Knapen MHJ, et al. Three-Year Low-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Helps Decrease Bone Loss in Healthy Postmenopausal Women. Osteoporosis Int. 24 (9), 2499–2507 (2013).
- van Summeren et al. The effect of menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) supplementation on osteocalcin carboxylation in healthy prepubertal children. Br J Nutr (2009) 102(8): 1171-8.