--- title: "Vitamin K2 (MK-7) — Evidence, Benefits & Where to Buy | Magellan" description: "Vitamin K2 (MK-7) — Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained from fermented foods such as natto and some cheeses and synthesized by gut…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html" type: "product" section: "Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers" evidence_grade: "Moderate evidence" evidence_tier: "moderate" citations: 20 product_id: 138 price_usd: 13.99 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" license: "Educational content — not medical advice" --- # Vitamin K2 (MK-7) [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) › Vitamin K2 (MK-7) **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/product/138 ## Key facts | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Product | Vitamin K2 (MK-7) | | Category | [Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers](https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.md) | | Evidence grade | Moderate evidence (B) | | Peer-reviewed citations | 20 | | Typical listed price | $13.99 (check the live price) | | Where to buy | [Search Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Vitamin%20K2%20%28MK-7%29&tag=magellanlong-20) | | Catalog ID | 138 | ## What it is Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained from fermented foods such as natto and some cheeses and synthesized by gut bacteria; MK-7 (menaquinone-7) is a long-chain menaquinone valued for its high bioavailability and long circulating half-life. It functions as an essential cofactor for the enzyme that γ-carboxylates vitamin K-dependent proteins, including matrix Gla-protein (MGP) in the arterial wall and osteocalcin in bone. In its carboxylated (activated) form, MGP is one of the body's most potent natural inhibitors of vascular calcification, while carboxylated osteocalcin helps incorporate calcium into the bone matrix. ## Its role in longevity In humans, MK-7 supplementation consistently improves vitamin K-status biomarkers — lowering circulating dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP by about half and markedly reducing undercarboxylated osteocalcin — and one well-run three-year randomized trial in healthy postmenopausal women found modestly improved arterial stiffness, greatest in women with stiff arteries at baseline. The evidence is not uniform: large randomized trials found no effect on aortic-valve calcification progression and no effect on bone mineral density or microarchitecture in postmenopausal women with osteopenia, effects on hard cardiovascular outcomes remain unproven with pivotal trials still underway, and supportive mortality data come from observational cohorts that cannot establish causation. Meta-analyses of randomized trials do support a role for vitamin K2 in postmenopausal osteoporosis outcomes, and a 2025 meta-analysis reports modest improvements in some glycemic and lipid measures, though trial quality and heterogeneity are concerns. This evidence describes the vitamin K2/MK-7 compound and its protein-carboxylation mechanism rather than this specific commercial product. ## Evidence grade: Moderate evidence - **What the grade means:** Curated grade based on the human and mechanistic evidence for this compound. - **Dose used in studies:** 180 µg/day MK-7 in the main 3-year arterial-stiffness trial. - **What this grade does not say:** MK-7 reliably improves vitamin K-status markers, and one 3-year RCT found modestly better arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women; but the large hard-endpoint trials on aortic-valve calcification and bone density were negative. Mortality benefits are observational only. ## Where it comes from without a bottle Food, exercise and behaviour routes to the same pathway, each with its citation. | Natural source | How it works | Citation | | --- | --- | --- | | Natto (fermented soybeans) | Natto is by far the richest natural source of MK-7, the exact long-acting vitamin K2 form in this supplement, at roughly 900 micrograms per 100 grams. | Food Chemistry 2018 [PMID 30724228](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30724228/) | | Natto for bone (dietary MK-7) | Dietary MK-7 from natto itself, not just isolated supplements, preserved bone density in a controlled model — supporting K2's bone-strengthening role from food. | Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism 1999 [PMID 10084398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10084398/) | | Aged cheese & other fermented foods | Bacterial fermentation makes menaquinones (K2), so fermented foods like cheese, fermented soybean pastes and kefir provide smaller amounts of MK forms beyond natto. | Food Chemistry 2018 [PMID 30724228](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30724228/) | ### What those papers actually say 1. **Natto (fermented soybeans)** Food Chemistry 2018 · [PMID 30724228](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30724228/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.136](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.136) > the highest MK-7 content was detected in natto (902 microg/100 g). 2. **Natto for bone (dietary MK-7)** Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism 1999 · [PMID 10084398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10084398/) · [DOI 10.1007/s007740050059](https://doi.org/10.1007/s007740050059) > OVX-induced decreases in the femoral dry weight and femoral calcium content were significantly prevented by the feeding of diets containing natto with MK-7 added. 3. **Aged cheese & other fermented foods** Food Chemistry 2018 · [PMID 30724228](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30724228/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.136](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.136) > Two Chinese fermented soybean pastes contained significant amount of MK-6 (5-36 microg/100 g), MK-7 (12-86 microg/100 g), and MK-8 (22-44 microg/100 g). Some MK-9 was present in kefir. ## In the news - **Two-Year Trial Shows Vitamin K2 Slowed Coronary Artery Calcification Progression** — Nutritional Outlook 2026 [Read it](https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/two-year-trial-shows-vitamin-k2-slowed-coronary-artery-calcification-progression) > At 24 months, the MK-7 group showed approximately 29% less progression in Agatston score compared with placebo. - **Vitamin K2-7 may slow progression of coronary artery calcification** — NutraIngredients 2026 [Read it](https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2026/06/12/vitamin-k2-7-may-slow-progression-of-coronary-artery-calcification/) > The overall effect is modest, and given that the percentage of fast progressors did not differ between the two treatment groups, the clinical significance of our findings remains to be demonstrated ## The research Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound. Quotes are verbatim from the cited abstract. Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product. ### Cited studies 1. **Evidence: matrix Gla-protein carboxylation** Circulation 2022 · [PMID 35465686](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35465686/) · [DOI 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057008](https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057008) > a cofactor for the carboxylation of proteins involved in inhibition of arterial calcification 2. **The effect of menaquinone-7 supplementation on vascular calcification in patients with diabetes: a randomized controlled trial** Am J Clin Nutr 2019 · [PMID 31387121](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31387121/) · [DOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqz147](https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz147) > MK-7 supplementation significantly reduced dp-ucMGP compared with placebo 3. **Effect of vitamin K supplementation on arterial stiffness in vitamin K-deficient kidney transplant recipients** Am J Transplant 2023 · [PMID 36695702](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36695702/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.12.015](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2022.12.015) > vitamin K supplementation prevented progression of arterial stiffness compared with placebo 4. **Two Years of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation and Coronary Artery Calcification: A Randomized Clinical Trial.** JAMA Cardiol 2026 · [PMID 42268593](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42268593/) · [DOI 10.1001/jamacardio.2026.1279](https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2026.1279) > The findings of this study suggest that supplementation with MK-7 for 2 years may slow calcification in noncalcified plaques of patients with symptomatic CAD. The clinical significance of this finding in terms of plaque stability remains to be determined. 5. **Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial.** Thromb Haemost 2015 · [PMID 25694037](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25694037/) · [DOI 10.1160/TH14-08-0675](https://doi.org/10.1160/TH14-08-0675) > In conclusion, long-term use of MK-7 supplements improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women, especially in women having a high arterial stiffness. 6. **Effect of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.** Nutrients 2023 · [PMID 37299386](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37299386/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu15112422](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112422) > Vitamin K supplements provided a beneficial impact in lowering the rate of arterial stiffness progression in chronic hemodialysis patients with diabetes. 7. **Effects of One-Year Menaquinone-7 Supplementation on Vascular Stiffness and Blood Pressure in Post-Menopausal Women.** Nutrients 2025 · [PMID 40077685](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40077685/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu17050815](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050815) > Post-menopausal women with an increased stiffness benefit most from MK-7 supplementation, with a significantly improved blood pressure. 8. **Vitamin K2 supplementation and arterial stiffness among renal transplant recipients-a single-arm, single-center clinical trial.** J Am Soc Hypertens 2017 · [PMID 28756183](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28756183/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.jash.2017.07.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jash.2017.07.001) > Supplementation was associated with a 14.2% reduction in mean cfPWV at 8 weeks 9. **Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study.** J Nutr 2004 · [PMID 15514282](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514282/) · [DOI 10.1093/jn/134.11.3100](https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.11.3100) > Intake of menaquinone was also inversely related to all-cause mortality [RR = 0.91 (0.75, 1.09) and 0.74 (0.59, 0.92), respectively] and severe aortic calcification [odds ratio of 0.71 (0.50, 1.00) and 0.48 (0.32, 0.71), respectively]. 10. **A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease.** Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2009 · [PMID 19179058](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19179058/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.numecd.2008.10.004](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2008.10.004) > we observed an inverse association between vitamin K(2) and risk of CHD with a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.91 [95% CI 0.85-1.00] per 10 microg/d vitamin K(2) intake. 11. **Dietary intake of vitamin K is inversely associated with mortality risk.** J Nutr 2014 · [PMID 24647393](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24647393/) · [DOI 10.3945/jn.113.187740](https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.113.187740) > An increase in dietary intake of vitamin K is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular, cancer, or all-cause mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk. 12. **Cardiovascular Disease Death Before Age 65 in 168 Countries Correlated Statistically with Biometrics, Socioeconomic Status, Tobacco, Gender, Exercise, Macronutrients, and Vitamin K.** Cureus 2016 · [PMID 27688985](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27688985/) · [DOI 10.7759/cureus.748](https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.748) > Female and male cohorts in countries that have vitamin K2 24 µg/day of vitamin K2 per 2000 kcal/day (n = 72). 13. **Vitamin KDependent Matrix Gla Protein Relating to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Overall Mortality: A Combined Case Control and Cohort Study.** Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2021 · [PMID 33947618](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33947618/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.03.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.03.016) > For people with an AAA, dp-ucMGP was correlated with an increased mortality risk for the highest tertile of dp-ucMGP. 14. **Efficacy of vitamin K2 in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.** Front Public Health 2022 · [PMID 36033779](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36033779/) · [DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2022.979649](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.979649) > The results of this meta-analysis seem to indicate that VK2 supplementation has a positive effect on the maintenance and improvement of BMD LS in postmenopausal women, and it can also reduce the fracture incidence, serum uc-OC levels and the ratio of uc-OC to cOC. 15. **Efficacy and safety of vitamin K2 for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at a long-term follow-up: meta-analysis and systematic review.** J Bone Miner Metab 2022 · [PMID 35711002](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35711002/) · [DOI 10.1007/s00774-022-01342-6](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-022-01342-6) > Vitamin K2 supplementation is beneficial and safe in the treatment of osteoporosis for postmenopausal women. 16. **The effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on bone turnover biochemical markers in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.** Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2025 · [PMID 41268154](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41268154/) · [DOI 10.3389/fendo.2025.1703116](https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1703116) > Vitamin K2 supplementation improves key bone turnover biomarkers, particularly OC and ucOC. These findings support its role in bone metabolism, though further long-term studies are needed to confirm clinical benefits, such as increased bone mineral density. 17. **Vitamin K Supplementation for Prevention of Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Are We There Yet?** Nutrients 2022 · [PMID 35267901](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35267901/) · [DOI 10.3390/nu14050925](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14050925) > Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), one the most powerful naturally occurring inhibitors of arterial calcification, requires vitamin K as a co-factor in order to undergo post-translational γ-carboxylation and phosphrorylation and become biologically active. 18. **Vitamin K-dependent proteins involved in bone and cardiovascular health (Review).** Mol Med Rep 2018 · [PMID 29749440](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29749440/) · [DOI 10.3892/mmr.2018.8940](https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8940) > Carboxylated matrix Gla protein effectively protects blood vessels and may prevent calcification within the vascular wall. 19. **The effect of vitamin MK-7 on bone mineral density and microarchitecture in postmenopausal women with osteopenia, a 3-year randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.** Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA 2021 · [PMID 33030563](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33030563/) > Despite a 65% fall in undercarboxylated osteocalcin, 375 µg/day MK-7 for 3 years did not improve bone mineral density, turnover markers, or microarchitecture in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. 20. **Effect of Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) Supplementation on Anthropometric Measurements, Glycemic Indices, and Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.** Prostaglandins & other lipid mediators 2025 · [PMID 40054729](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40054729/) > A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials found MK-7 supplementation modestly improved some glycemic indices and lipid measures. ## Where to buy [Search Amazon for Vitamin K2 (MK-7)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Vitamin%20K2%20%28MK-7%29&tag=magellanlong-20) — affiliate search link. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"ItemPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html","name":"Vitamin K2 (MK-7)","description":"Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained from fermented foods such as natto and some cheeses and synthesized by gut bacteria; MK-7…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/c/1.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Vitamin K2 (MK-7)","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html"}]},{"@type":"Product","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html#product","name":"Vitamin K2 (MK-7)","category":"Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/p/138.html","description":"Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained from fermented foods such as natto and some cheeses and synthesized by gut bacteria; MK-7 (menaquinone-7) is a long-chain menaquinone valued for its high bioavailability and long circulating half-life. 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Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).