A two-year randomised controlled trial has found that daily supplementation with vitamin K2 MK-7 and vitamin D3 was associated with a 21% reduction in the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) compared with placebo.
Published in the journal Circulation, the DANCODE (DANish COronary DEcalcification) study used 398 men and women with severe coronary calcification across three Danish hospitals.
Participants had a median age of 71 and received either 720 µg/day of vitamin K2 MK-7 plus 25 µg/day of vitamin D3 or placebo for 24 months.
The mean increase in CAC was 196 Agatston units (AU) in the vitamin group compared with 248 AU in the placebo group, representing a between-group difference of 52 AU.
The effect was consistent across sex and baseline CAC categories. A subgroup undergoing coronary CT angiography also showed attenuated progression of calcified plaque, without an increase in non-calcified plaque volume.
The researchers said the findings support the hypothesis that targeting vitamin K-dependent pathways may influence coronary calcification, but they noted that further research is still needed to determine whether this translates into reductions in cardiovascular events.
Implications for vitamin K2 formulations
The trial used Balchem's K2VITAL DELTA, a microencapsulated vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient.
The company says the ingredient uses double-coated beadlets designed to improve K2 stability in formulations containing minerals such as calcium and magnesium, plus is suitable for formats including powders, tablets, gummies and water-based liquids.
Balchem added that it has also invested in quality testing around vitamin K2, reporting that its K2VITAL portfolio typically contains 99.8% all-trans MK-7.
The company says independent testing of 38 commercially available K2 products found that 29% met its criteria for both MK-7 content and isomeric purity, highlighting formulation quality and stability as important considerations for manufacturers.
The DANCODE findings build on earlier research from the Danish group, including the AVADEC trial, and add to the evidence base being developed around vitamin K2 MK-7, cardiovascular health and healthy ageing.
