As is well known, the main function of all types of vitamin K is carboxylation to activate vitamin K-dependent proteins, which play a health effect. In the past decade, vitamin K experts from various countries have conducted multiple studies, especially last year's research proving that trans MK-7 has significantly higher carboxylation ability.
1.The bioavailability and efficacy of MK-7 are significantly superior to MK-4
In a study conducted by Sato et al. in 2012, it was found that ① single dose administration of MK-4 or MK-7: MK-7 was well absorbed and reached its highest serum level at 6 hours, and could still be detected within 48 hours after ingestion. However, serum MK-4 was not detected in all subjects at any time point. ② Continuous administration of MK-4 or MK-7 for a total of 7 days proves that supplementing MK-4 does not increase serum MK-4 levels in all subjects. However, supplementation with MK-7 significantly increased serum MK-7 levels in all subjects. Conclusion: MK-7 can significantly increase serum MK-7 levels, which may be particularly important for extrahepatic tissues. The bioavailability and efficacy of MK-7 are significantly superior to MK-4.
Figure 1. Single supplementation of MK-4 by subjects (420 μ g) Or MK-7 (420 μ g) Changes in serum vitamin K2 levels after treatment
Figure 2: Subjects continuously supplemented with MK-4 or MK-7 for a total of 7 days (60 μg/day)
In 2021, Bus and Szterk [2] pointed out that vitamin K1 and MK-4 were maintained in plasma for 8-24 hours, while the half-life of long-chain menadione (MK-7) was much longer and was still detected within 96 hours after administration [3]. In addition, long-term supplementation of MK-7 can accumulate in the serum [3].
2.Trans MK-7 has significantly higher carboxylation ability
In September 2022, Cirilli from Italy and research experts from South Africa and Germany published "Carboxylation of trans and cis MK-7 and its comparison with other vitamin K isomers" in the journal BioFactors, showing that MK-7 is the most effective in terms of bioavailability and biological effects. Trans MK-7 has significantly higher carboxylation ability.
Research results: Compared with cis MK-7, trans MK-7 showed significantly higher (* *) carboxylation matrix Gla protein ability.
Numerous studies have shown that vitamin K2 has multiple health effects: preventing vascular calcification, cardiac valve calcification and cartilage calcification, preventing osteoporosis, protecting nerves and liver, alleviating symptoms of menopausal syndrome, enhancing mitochondrial energy release/preventing cancer cell invasion and metastasis, inhibiting cancer cell growth, and causing cancer cell apoptosis, among others. Last year's research results showed that trans MK-7 (vitamin K2) has significantly higher carboxylation ability. It deserves our attention.
References
[1] Sato T, Schurgers LJ, Uenishi K. Comparison of menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7 bioavailability in healthy women. Nutr J, 2012,11:93.
[2] Bus K, Szterk A. Relationship between Structure and Biological Activity of Various Vitamin K Forms. Foods, 2021,10(12):3136.
[3] Schurgers LJ, Teunissen KJ, Hamulyák K, Knapen MH, Vik H, Vermeer C. Vitamin K–Containing Dietary Supplements: Comparison of Synthetic Vitamin K1 and Natto-Derived Menaquinone-7. Blood, 2007, 109:3279–3283.
[4] Cirilli I, Orlando P, Silvestri S, Marcheggiani F, Dludla PV, Kaesler N, Tiano L. Carboxylative efficacy of trans and cis MK7 and comparison with other vitamin K isomers. Biofactors, 2022 Sep;48(5):1129-1136.