Evidence brief · Supplement
Vitamin K2 for Osteocalcin carboxylation
Evidence grade A — Reliable surrogate improvement
- Overall grade
- Grade A
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 1
- reference listed
Assembled by the app from other entries in this library. It adds no evidence of its own — follow the links to the entries it draws on.
1 at grade A — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Osteocalcin carboxylationEvidence grade A
Reliable surrogate improvement
Largehigh
The evidence in words
The verdict
For osteocalcin carboxylation, Vitamin K2 earns evidence grade A (large effect, high consistency) — there is real evidence here. Reliable surrogate improvement
How it might work
K2 is the cofactor that carboxylates (activates) two calcium-binding proteins: osteocalcin, which incorporates calcium into bone matrix, and matrix Gla protein, which inhibits calcium deposition in arterial walls. Without adequate K2, both proteins stay under-carboxylated and calcium handling drifts the wrong way.
How to use it
90–180 µg MK-7 daily, taken with vitamin D and a fatty meal. There is no benefit to megadosing.
Safety & cautions
Very safe. The critical exception: K2 (like K1) antagonizes warfarin and other vitamin-K-antagonist anticoagulants — anyone on warfarin must keep vitamin K intake consistent and cleared with their prescriber. It does not interact with the newer DOAC anticoagulants.
Bottom line
A cheap, low-risk companion to vitamin D that makes mechanistic sense for bone and vascular calcium handling. 90–180 µg MK-7 with your D. If you take warfarin, do not add it without medical guidance.
How it is used
As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.
- Standard
- 90–180 µg MK-7 daily with vitamin D and fat.
Goes with
- Vitamin K2Read the full Vitamin K2 monographEvidence grade B
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Vitamin K2 for Arterial stiffness markersEvidence grade B — Some trials positive over 3 yearsEvidence grade B
- Vitamin K2 for Fracture reductionEvidence grade C — Hard-outcome data limitedEvidence grade C
- Vitamin K2: dosage and how to take it90–180 µg MK-7 daily with vitamin D and fat.Evidence grade B
- Vitamin K2: side effects, safety & interactionsVery safe. The critical exception: K2 (like K1) antagonizes warfarin and other vitamin-K-antagonist anticoagulants — anyEvidence grade B
Sources
As this entry records them: title, journal and year. None carries a DOI or PubMed id, so none is linked as a verified paper. Each link searches PubMed for the title; check that what you find is what the entry describes.
- 1.Menaquinone-7 supplementation and arterial stiffness — Thromb Haemost, 2015. Search PubMed (opens in a new tab)
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.