Vitals Vitamin K2 360 μg contains menaquinone-7 (MK-7), the most effective form of this increasingly well-known vitamin. MK-7 is excellently absorbed and remains active in the body for a long time. For that reason, this particular form of vitamin K2 is still considered the best supplement form to support your health with. As in most other vitamin K2 products from Vitals, this product also uses K2VITAL™ DELTA from vitamin K2 specialist Balchem. This is a very stable form of vitamin K2, guaranteeing optimal efficacy throughout the shelf life of the product.

The dosage of 360 μg is based on the amount of vitamin K in the diet of residents of Japan who consume natto very regularly. To illustrate, a 50-gram serving of natto contains approximately 450 μg of vitamin K2, 100 grams of cooked spinach contains 575 μg of vitamin K1, and 100 grams of cooked kale contains as much as 817 μg of vitamin K1. Doses of 360 μg vitamin K2 (MK-7) and even higher are also common in human studies today. Vitals is one of the first nutritional supplement brands in the Netherlands with a vitamin K2 product in this dosage.

Vitamin K: important for normal blood clotting and strong bones
Vitamin K consists of two naturally occurring forms: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Vitamin K2 includes several variants, including MK-4, MK-7 and MK-9. The most well-known function of vitamin K in the body is to contribute to normal blood clotting. Vitamin K activates certain vitamin K-dependent blood clotting factors that ensure that blood clotting is optimal, that is, neither too strong nor too weak. Both vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 support normal blood clotting. Vitamin K also contributes to the absorption of calcium into bone tissue and the maintenance of strong bones. However, vitamin K2, particularly in the form of MK-7, can perform this function significantly better than vitamin K1.

Mechanism of action of vitamin K: activate vitamin K-dependent proteins
Vitamin K is required as a coenzyme for the activation of so-called Gla proteins. Activation by vitamin K is an essential step for these proteins to perform their main functions. Good examples of Gla proteins are ^osteocalcin1 and matrix Gla protein (MGP⁾². A common property of these vitamin K-dependent Gla proteins is that they can bind calcium to themselves and ensure that calcium ends up in the right place in the body (such as in the bones) and not in unwanted places.

¹ Osteocalcin: (also known as bone-Gla protein) is a vitamin K-dependent protein that is produced in bone tissue and regulates its mineralization.

² Matrix-Gla-protein: a vitamin K-dependent protein produced in most soft tissues, such as blood vessels, cartilage, kidneys, lungs and spleen, as well as in bone tissue. MGP (like osteocalcin and other Gla proteins) has a calcium-binding property.

Rich dietary sources of vitamin K: natto and leafy vegetables
Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is of plant origin and is mainly present in green (leafy) vegetables. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is of bacterial origin and is present in small amounts in meat and eggs (MK-4), (fermented) dairy products such as cheese and yogurt (MK-8 and MK-9) and is also produced to a limited extent by bacteria in the colon. However, by far the richest dietary source of vitamin K2 (MK-7) is natto, a Japanese fermented soybean product.

Vitamin K in Western foods consists of 90% poorly absorbed vitamin K1 (mainly from green vegetables) and only 10% of vitamin K2, which is excellently absorbed. Natto is not really eaten in Western Europe because it is not very popular due to its distinct taste and texture. Since the above-mentioned animal food sources contain only small amounts of vitamin K2 and not everyone eats animal products either, a supplement with vitamin K2 (preferably in the form of MK-7) may be useful for many people to supplement the diet.

K2VITAL™ DELTA from Balchem: K2 with unparalleled stability
Vitamin K2 is known to be a very unstable vitamin. In combination with minerals or certain excipients, the content of vitamin K2 in a product can quickly decrease. This is, of course, highly undesirable, as it reduces the effectiveness. Manufacturer Balchem has developed a vitamin K2 raw material that is very well protected against external influences. By means of a patented micro encapsulation process, the K2 is completely enveloped, guaranteeing stability even in products with aggressive mineral compounds. Vitals has selected K2VITAL™ DELTA as the best vitamin K2 raw material after extensive stability testing with different K2 raw materials in various compositions.

Permitted health claims:

• vitamin K helps in normal blood clotting
• vitamin K contributes to the absorption of calcium in the bones and helps keep them strong