A new study performed by the company NattoPharma and VitaK BV, the research Institute in Maastricht, Nederland, examined vitamin K2 levels in adults and children, and found deficiencies in both groups. The study, published in Food & Function, took 896 blood samples from 110 healthy volunteers, consisting of 42 children and 68 adults. The samples were used for measurements of biomarkers reflecting the vitamin K2 status in healthy volunteers by measuring both circulating dp-ucMGP and ucOC.
 
From the age of 40 years the dp-uc MGP levels at baseline — before any intake of vitamin K2 — gradually increased, pointing to a significant need for vitamin K2 supplementation with increased age. Children had the highest levels of ucOC, also pointing to a vitamin K2 deficiency. The children and adults with the most pronounced vitamin K2 deficiency gave the highest responses to supplementation with MenaQ7.
 
“Children and adults above the age of 40 years showed the largest vitamin K2 deficiency, and accordingly may benefit from MK-7 supplementation to improve their vitamin K2 status,” explained Elke Theuwissen of VitaK, the principal investigator in the study.
 
“This study demonstrates a general vitamin K2 deficiency in the whole population”, says Hogne Vik, CEO of NattoPharma. “Supplementation with vitamin K2 (MenaQ7) improves the status of the biomarkers correlating with a normal vitamin K2 level in the body that is especially important for bone development in children and for delaying development of osteoporosis and vascular calcification in adults from the age of 40 years.”
 
For more information: www.nattopharma.com