Vitamin K2 is an essential vitamin that helps keep bones healthy. If you want to take advantage of the Best Vitamin K2 Supplements of 2021, here is what you should know.
Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that helps keep bones healthy and strong. It also plays a role in blood clotting. There are many different vitamin K supplements available, making it difficult to choose one over another. This article will rank the best vitamin K2 supplements of 2021.
The first thing we need to do when choosing any supplement is making sure that they contain real ingredients. The second step is to look at how much each ingredient costs per serving. You can use this information as a guide for your own research on vitamins.
If you’re looking for the best vitamin k2 supplements, then you have come to the right place! We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to.
Forms of Vitamin K2
It’s also important to note that vitamin K2 can be found naturally in leafy greens, broccoli, tomatoes, beans, eggs, fish, dairy products, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, avocados, liver, and some types of cheese. However, most people don’t get enough from their diet alone. That’s why it makes sense to supplement with vitamin K2.
The best way to take your daily dose of vitamin K2 is by taking supplements. Many different brands are on the market today, but not all have been proven effective or safe. To help you find one that works well for you, we’ve put together this list of the top 10 vitamins k2 supplements available right now.
What Is Vitamin K2?
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps your body use calcium to build bones and blood clots. It’s also important for healthy heart function, but getting enough in your diet can be difficult without taking supplements. In fact, you need about 90 mcg per day—about four times as much as most people consume on average.
That’s why many experts recommend supplementing with vitamin K2 instead of just plain old vitamin K1. The two forms are very similar, so which one you should take depends mostly on how well absorbed they are into your bloodstream. If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your intake, consider these top 10 best vitamin k2 supplements available today.
Rankings
1. Sports Research Natural MK-7 Vitamin K2
Sports Research makes a high-quality vitamin K2 supplement that uses the proprietary chickpea extract MK-7 as its source for the vitamin.
Each capsule contains 100 micrograms of vitamin K2, and the capsules are made of vegetarian-friendly glycerine.
To top it off, vitamin K2 is dissolved in extra virgin organic olive oil, which helps substantially absorb. All of these perks make it one of the best K2 supplements out there.
2. Zhou Nutrition K2 + D3
If you want to improve your heart health and bone health simultaneously, Zhou Nutrition’s K2 + D3 is an excellent choice.
It combines 90 micrograms of vitamin K2 with 5000 IUs of vitamin D3, a critical vitamin for (you guessed it) heart and bone health that many people chronically lack, especially in the winter. With no extraneous ingredients and third-party testing for purity and dosage, you can’t go wrong with Zhou K2 + D3.
3. MaryRuth’s Organics Vitamin K2
MaryRuth’s Organics delivers its vitamin K2 supplement in liquid form, dissolved in organic olive oil.
This means the supplement is extremely pure and well absorbed because the fat-soluble vitamin K2 is already ingested in a dissolved format.
The liquid format means it’s easy to mix into shakes, smoothies, and drinks. Minimalists will love this supplement, too, as its sole ingredients are vitamin K2, organic olive oil, and water.
4. InnovixLabs Full Spectrum Vitamin K2
InnovixLabs walks the line between the standard dosage vitamin K2 supplements and those that offer megadose-range amounts of vitamin K2.
It provides 500 micrograms of vitamin K2 in the MK-4 form and an additional 100 micrograms in the MK-7 form to be more biologically active than single-form vitamin K supplements.
These are dissolved in a mix of olive oil and MCT oil, so it’s bound to be absorbed well, too.
5. Life Extension Super K
Life Extension Super K is the go-to supplement for people who want a megadose of all three K vitamins.
While K2 has specific uses in arterial and bone health, vitamins K1 and K3 may also play a role in health. Unlike other vitamin K2 supplements, Life Extensions Super K doesn’t stick to standard dosages–one capsule contains 2600 micrograms of the K vitamins, 1000 is vitamin K2.
Most people would be better suited with a standard dosage, but if you know you want a high dose, Life Extension should be your choice.
6. Jarrow Formulas MK-7
Jarrow Formulas delivers 90 micrograms of vitamin K2 in a gelatin-based soft gel. The vitamin is dissolved in a mix of medium-chain triglycerides and soybean oil, so the absorption is likely to be good.
That aside, it’s a pretty standard vitamin K2 supplement, neither standing out nor failing on any other front.
7. Solgar Vitamin K2
Solgar Vitamin K2 is a straightforward, simple vitamin K2 supplement with 100 micrograms of vitamin K2 per capsule. The capsule is vegetarian-friendly and delivers a small amount of calcium as well.
Aside from silica as a binder and filler, the supplement design is fairly clean, though not the best.
8. Now MK-7 K2
Now Foods has a vitamin K2 supplement that uses the popular MK-7 extract from chickpeas as its source of the active ingredient. Still, unfortunately, the quality of the rest of the supplements is subpar.
It has a few fillers that the best vitamin K2 supplements don’t have, and it doesn’t deliver the supplement alongside any synergistic vitamins or in a rapidly absorbed format.
9. Nature Made K2
Nature Made is about as basic as you can get in a vitamin K2 supplement. It delivers 100 micrograms of vitamin K2, but it doesn’t use as clean a supplement design as many competitors.
It uses soybean oil to dissolve the vitamin K2 instead of the healthier but more expensive olive oil or coconut oil used by other supplements, and purists will not like the use of artificial coloring agents either.
10. Doctor’s Best Natural Vitamin K2
While it’s a fairly popular vitamin K2 supplement, Doctor’s Best Natural Vitamin K2 gets outclassed by its competitors on several fronts.
Its dosage is half that of most other vitamin K2 supplements, and its ingredients list is bloated with stabilizers, preservatives, and binders that aren’t necessary. It doesn’t deliver its vitamin K2 in a fat-based solvent, so the absorption isn’t expected to be great either.
Differences between Vitamin K and K2
Vitamin K2 is one of several forms of vitamin K. It effectively prevents bone loss and fractures. The recommended daily intake of vitamin K2 ranges from 60-90 mcg per day, depending on age and gender. However, most people don’t consume enough vitamin K1 because they eat too few foods containing phylloquinone. In fact, many Americans only get half their RDI of vitamin K1 through diet alone! Therefore, supplementation may become necessary if your body doesn’t produce sufficient amounts naturally.
You might wonder if there’s really anything special about vitamin K2 compared to regular vitamin K. After all, both are called “K” vitamins because they belong to the same family. But while vitamin K1 has only been around since the early 1900s, vitamin K2 was discovered more than 50 years ago. Since then, researchers have learned a lot more about its potential uses.
In addition to helping support overall good health, vitamin K2 could potentially benefit specific conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s Disease. For example, OA affects nearly 30 million Americans, including almost half of those 65 and older. Studies show that patients who took high doses of vitamin K had fewer knee pain and stiffness symptoms. Researchers believe that vitamin K2 may reduce inflammation associated with RA and AD.
How Does Vitamin K Work?
The function of vitamin K is not fully understood yet, but scientists believe it plays a role in blood clotting by helping form crosslinks between proteins called gamma carboxylase. Gamma carboxylation helps stabilize these proteins so that when needed, they stay intact long enough to perform their functions. Without adequate levels of vitamin K, the formation of these crosslinking bonds could potentially break down, leading to bleeding disorders such as hemophilia.
Benefits of Vitamin K2 Supplements
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting.
It’s also essential for bone health, and it helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Some studies suggest that vitamin K may even play a part in preventing cancer. Unfortunately, our bodies can’t make much of this nutrient on their own, so we need to rely on dietary sources or supplemental options. Here are some ways that taking vitamin K2 supplements can help improve your health:
Bone Health
According to research published in the Journal of Bone & Mineral Research, women who consumed higher vitamin K were less likely to suffer a hip fracture during menopause. Another study found that postmenopausal women who supplemented with 100mcg of vitamin K every other day experienced better bone density over time. These findings indicate that vitamin K2 may protect against bone loss due to estrogen deficiency.
Osteoarthritis
A recent review suggests that vitamin K2 may slow joint damage caused by OA. This condition causes cartilage to wear away, resulting in painful joints and reduced mobility. Supplementing with vitamin K2 may provide relief for sufferers.
Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists suspect that low levels of vitamin K may contribute to cognitive decline seen in AD patients. One theory holds that vitamin K deficiencies lead to increased oxidative stress within brain cells, causing them to die off prematurely. Other theories hold that insufficient vitamin K leads to the accumulation of beta amyloids, toxic protein fragments linked to AD.
Heart Health
Several animal studies suggest that vitamin K2 may prevent heart attacks and strokes. In one experiment, researchers fed rats diets deficient in either vitamin K1 or K2 for four weeks before inducing coronary artery occlusion. The results showed that animals given only K2 survived longer than those without any supplementation at all. Additional evidence indicates that vitamin K2 may lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Cancer Prevention
Animal studies have shown that vitamin K2 reduces tumor growth and metastasis. However, human clinical trials aren’t conclusive about whether supplementing with vitamin K will actually decrease the rates of certain cancers. Still, there’s plenty of reason to think that vitamin K2 might be beneficial for cancer prevention. First, many types of tumors require new blood vessels to grow; therefore, inhibiting angiogenesis should limit tumor size.
Second, several studies have indicated that vitamin K2 decreases cell proliferation, slowing the rate at which abnormal cells multiply. Finally, vitamin K has been shown to inhibit inflammatory processes involved in carcinogenesis.
Improved Immune System Function
As mentioned above, vitamin K2 supports proper calcium metabolism, which is necessary for immune system functioning. Additionally, vitamin K2 promotes wound healing and prevents gum infections.
Better Digestion
When you take vitamin K2 supplements, you increase iron, zinc, and magnesium absorption into the body. All three minerals are essential for digestion and healthy bowel function.
Improved Skin Appearance
Many people use vitamin K2 as a skincare product because it helps promote collagen production and improve elasticity. It can also help treat acne scars and wrinkles.
Increased Energy Levels
Some experts believe that taking vitamin K2 boosts energy levels by improving sleep quality. Others claim that it increases alertness and improves mood.
Weight Loss Support
Researchers say that vitamin K2 may support weight management by increasing satiety and reducing hunger pangs. They also note that this nutrient may boost fat burning while slowing down carbohydrate conversion into stored fats.
Side effects of Vitamin K2 Supplements
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in blood clotting. It also plays an important role in bone health and wound healing, as well as helping to prevent heart disease. The body needs healthy bones, teeth, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, skin, hair, nails, eyes, kidneys, liver, pancreas, lungs, stomach, intestines, brain, and prostate gland.
However, too much vitamin K can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, headache, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, numbness, tinnitus, itching, rash, urticaria, or pruritis. Some people who take high doses of vitamin K develop kidney stones or bleeding from their gums. Also, some medications used to treat diabetes or other conditions can interact negatively with vitamin K.
Food Sources of Vitamin K
- Green leafy vegetables
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Turnip greens
- Lettuce
- Watercress
Other Vegetables:
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Eggplant
- Grapefruit
- Kiwifruit
- Mango
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Sweet potato
Recommended dosage
The recommended daily allowance for adults age 19 years or older is 90 mcg per day. For children ages 9–18 years, the RDA is 60 mcg per day. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need 120 mcg per day. Men need 75 mcg per day. Children under 8 years do not require any supplemental vitamins or minerals.
A study published in 2016 showed that women who consumed at least 400 micrograms of vitamin K2 each week had less than half the rate of hip fractures compared to those who did not receive supplementation. Researchers believe that vitamin K may play a key role in preventing osteoporosis. They also noted no significant differences among participants when comparing rates of fracture based on whether they received 500 mg/day of vitamin D or 1,000 IU/day of vitamin E.
Another recent study conducted by researchers from Harvard University and Brigham & Women’s Hospital suggests that taking high doses of vitamin K2 might lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings suggest that higher levels of vitamin K2 in the brain may protect against neurodegeneration associated with aging.
As a veteran fitness technology innovator and the founder of GearUpToFit.com, Alex Papaioannou stands at the intersection of health science and artificial intelligence. With over a decade of specialized experience in digital wellness solutions, he’s transforming how people approach their fitness journey through data-driven methodologies.