About the Product
HSN EssentialSeries Vitamin K2 is a Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) form) supplement in HPMC vegetable capsules, with 100mcg of Vitamin K2-MK7 per capsule — the K2 form with the longest plasma half-life, highest tissue biodistribution, and strongest clinical evidence for bone and cardiovascular health among all vitamin K2 subtypes. Derived from natto (fermented, non-GMO soy), plant-based — entirely suitable for vegans and vegetarians. 1 capsule/day. Vegan. Gluten-free. HSN exclusively uses the MK-7 form (menaquinone with 7 carbons in the side chain) because it has the best pharmacokinetic profile and the highest documented clinical efficacy.
Ingredients: Vitamin K2 MK-7 (Menaquinone-7, from fermented non-GMO soy natto) + Vegetable capsule (HPMC) + minimal excipients.
Benefits
Vitamin K2 MK-7: the premium form of vitamin K2 with the longest half-life and greatest action in extracellular tissues:
As extensively described in the MK-7 section of Marvelous Nutrition, Vitamin K2 exists in multiple forms (MK-4, MK-7, MK-8, MK-9) and MK-7 (Menaquinone-7) is the form with the best pharmacokinetic profile for oral supplementation: plasma half-life of ~72 hours (vs. ~1 hour for MK-4 and vitamin K1), greater biodistribution to extracellular tissues such as bones and arteries (instead of being retained in the liver like K1 and MK-4), and greater documented clinical efficacy for activating osteocalcin and Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) in bone and vascular tissues. The direct comparison between MK-4 and MK-7 was documented by the study by Sato et al. (2012), published in the Nutrition Journal — the study cited by HSN in the description of its K2 products — which showed that 45mcg of MK-7/day maintained stable plasma K2 levels for 24 hours, while MK-4 was undetectable in plasma 8 hours after ingestion, confirming the pharmacokinetic superiority of MK-7.
The D3 + K2 synergy: the inseparable vitamin duo for bone and cardiovascular health:
As described in the MK-7 section of Marvelous Nutrition and in multiple previous products in this session, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 act in obligatory synergy: D3 increases intestinal calcium absorption (up to 30 to 40%), and K2 activates vitamin K-dependent proteins that channel calcium to the bones (carboxylated osteocalcin) and prevent its deposition in the arteries (activated Matrix Gla Protein). Without K2, D3 can paradoxically increase the risk of arterial calcification by raising serum calcium levels without ensuring its correct channeling to the bone. HSN offers K2 standalone (for those who already take D3 separately) and in D3+K2 combination (for those who prefer a single dose).
Fermented natto: the world's richest natural source of MK-7:
HSN EssentialSeries Vitamin K2 MK-7 is derived from natto — a traditional Japanese food produced by fermenting soybeans with the bacterium Bacillus subtilis natto. Natto is, by far, the richest food source of Vitamin K2-MK7: 100g of natto contains ~939 to 1103mcg of K2-MK7 — values 10 to 1000 times higher than other K2-rich foods (Gouda cheese: ~75mcg/100g; chicken liver: ~14mcg/100g). The extraction of K2-MK7 from natto is carried out by cold extraction processes that preserve the molecular structure and biological activity of menaquinone, resulting in a product of high purity and high bioavailability. The non-GMO soy used in the fermentation process ensures the absence of genetically modified organisms in the final product.
Bone health: carboxylated osteocalcin and bone matrix mineralization:
As described in MK-7 from Marvelous, K2 MK-7 activates osteocalcin by carboxylation of its glutamic acid residues into γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) — the form that has high affinity for calcium and for the hydroxyapatite crystals of the bone matrix. Carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC) "anchors" calcium to the bone's protein matrix, which is the mechanism by which K2 strengthens bone mineralization and bone mineral density. The clinical trial by Knapen et al. (2015), published in Osteoporosis International with 244 postmenopausal women over 3 years, documented that 180mcg/day of MK-7 increased vertebral strength and reduced bone loss — with a documented dose-response for doses of 45 to 180mcg/day.
Prevention of arterial calcification: activated Matrix Gla Protein as a vascular protector:
Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) is the protein with the highest documented potency for inhibiting vascular calcification — and its activation by K2 is the mechanism by which K2 protects arteries. Inactive MGP (uncarboxylated, dp-ucMGP) accumulates in the arterial walls and calcified kidneys of people with K2 deficiency, while activated MGP (cMGP, carboxylated by K2) inhibits the deposition of calcium crystals in vascular smooth muscle. The Rotterdam study by Geleijnse et al. (2004), with 4807 participants followed for 10 years, documented that higher K2 intake (not K1) was associated with less aortic calcification and lower coronary mortality — the foundational study of the K2-cardiovascular health relationship.
100mcg: the reference dose for documented cardiovascular and bone effects:
The dose of 100mcg of MK-7/day is the most commonly used dose in clinical trials on K2 and cardiovascular and bone health. EFSA establishes 1000mcg/day as the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for combined vitamin K, which means that 100mcg has a 10x safety margin. For the cardiovascular effect (activation of vascular MGP), some studies suggest that doses of 180 to 360mcg/day are more effective — but 100mcg is the standard recommended maintenance dose for the healthy general population.
Uses
Recommended dose: Take 1 capsule per day, preferably with a meal containing fat (Vitamin K2 is fat-soluble and its intestinal absorption is enhanced by the presence of fat in the meal). It can be taken with standalone Vitamin D3 or as a supplement to a multivitamin. Do not take on an empty stomach.
