Perhaps the most overlooked fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin K has a wide range of beneficial effects on the body. However, these effects are not universal. The type of Vitamin K, and type of person you are, plays a large role in your experience with this vitamin.
Like many vitamins, Vitamin K is not a singular compound. It can either be Vitamin K1, which is phylloquinone, or it can be Vitamin K2, which is several different menaquinones. Of all the menaquinones out there, the two that are mostly used and researched are MK-4 and MK-7. (1)
But before we get to which of these forms is the best, let's understand the importance of Vitamin K in general. Vitamin K's most important and well-known role in the body is that it's needed for blood clotting. Without it, wounds and cuts would not stop bleeding.
Although this is obviously very important, it can become an issue when people are taking anticoagulants or blood thinning medications. Since Vitamin K counteracts these drug's effects, people taking them need to speak to their doctor before taking any Vitamin K supplement. (1)
This is far from the only thing Vitamin K does though. It is required to make healthy bone tissue, is important for how your body responds to insulin, and helps the cardiovascular system. This has been demonstrated in several research studies.
Higher levels of Vitamin K have been associated with a decreased risk of osteoarthritis. (2) Higher intakes of it have been associated with better markers of insulin resistance. (3) And higher MK-7 levels have been associated with lower all-cause mortality rates and coronary heart disease. (4)
Which leads perfectly into which form is the best? The short answer is MK-7. Why? It has outperformed the other two main sources of Vitamin K in head to head studies. In one study, MK-7 was absorbed well and increased blood levels, but MK-4 was not absorbed well and did not improve Vitamin K status significantly. (5) In another study, MK-7 produced much more stable Vitamin K blood levels compared to Vitamin K1. (6)
This is why we use MK-7 in our Pinnacle Men's and Women's Multis. How much? We use the 100% AI value for adults aged 19+. This is 120 mcg for men, and 90 mcg for women. It is rare to find this proper dosage in many multivitamins on the market because most brands do not want to deal with it interacting with medications.
However, recently published research has demonstrated that 67% of Americans are NOT consuming enough Vitamin K. (7) That is why we feel it is essential to include this essential nutrient in our products.
But again: PEOPLE ON BLOOD THINNING MEDICATION SHOULD NOT TAKE THESE PRODUCTS, OR ANY OTHER PRODUCTS CONTAINING VITAMIN K, WITHOUT SPEAKING TO THEIR DOCTOR FIRST!
1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572460/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC
4. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/134/11/310
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC