Emerging research highlights the importance of optimal intake of vitamin K as a critical aspect of maintaining bone and cardiovascular health.

A group of naturally occurring and structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K is required for the proper utilization of calcium, helping to bind newly absorbed calcium to the bone matrix. Vitamin K helps maintain bone mineral density by decreasing the activity of osteoclasts, cells which break down bone and also provides critical cardiovascular protection by activating Matrix GLA Protein (MGP), an potent inhibitor of circulatory calcification.Together with vitamin D, another key nutrient required for overall wellness, these two nutrients act in synergy to support and maintain bone, cardiovascular, and immune health.Recent research has found high concentration therapy, at 180 mcg/day, results in improved clinical results compared to low dose supplementation.

Ortho Moleculars Vitamin K2 with D3 provides 180 mcg of vitamin K2 delivered in the preferred MK-7 form along with 5000 IU of vitamin D3 per capsule, for optimal support of cardiovascular and bone health.

While vitamin D has long been known to assist calcium absorption, it is vitamin K, through its carboxylation of osteocalcin, which guides calcium into bones and prevents its absorption into organs, joint spaces and arteries.

Vitamin K occurs in 3 main forms:

• K1 (phylloquinone) - from foods such as green leafy vegetables,
• K2 (menaquinone) - originating from bacteria
• K3 (menadione) - a synthetic analogue.

Numerous studies have shown that vitamin K2 is the more bioavailable form of the nutrient, and more powerfully influences bone building than K1. In addition, though both reach the liver, most of the bodys K1 is used for purposes of coagulation, with little left over to support the bodys needs elsewhere.

The profounuly different degrees of bioavailability between K1 and K2 is due to differences in structure; only 10-20% of vitamin K1 that is absorbed from food even reaches circulation, while the long side-chain of vitamin K2 allows it to bind with fat particles in circulation and facilitate its arrival at soft tissue, bones and arteries. There are two forms of vitamin K2 commonly used in supplements, synthetic MK-4, and natural MK-7 (extracted from the traditional Japanese food, Natto). The MK-7 form has been shown to have 6 times the activity of MK-4 in the blood. MK-7 has also been found to remain in the blood approximately nine times as long as the MK-4 (8 hours versus 72 hours), making it the preferred form of K2.

More recently, research has shown that doses of 180 mcg of MK-7 provide greater results when supporting both bone and cardiovascular health.