Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin with a unique role in long-term wellbeing. While vitamin K1 is best known for its part in normal blood clotting, vitamin K2 works through specialised proteins that guide calcium to where it is needed most. In this way, it contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and helps preserve balance in the circulatory system.
The essentials
What it is: Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is part of the wider vitamin K family. Among its forms, menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is the most bioactive and longest-lasting, remaining active in the body far longer than other types.
Why it matters: Adequate vitamin K helps maintain strong bones and supports normal blood clotting. Together with vitamin D, it plays a central role in calcium balance throughout the body.
Life stage relevance: Needs for reliable vitamin K2 intake grow with age, as maintaining bone density and circulatory flexibility becomes increasingly important during midlife and beyond.
Where is vitamin K2 found?
Vitamin K2 is naturally present in certain fermented and animal-derived foods:
Natto (fermented soybeans): ~1,000 µg MK-7 per 100 g
Aged cheeses: 20–50 µg MK-7 per 100 g
Fermented dairy and meats: smaller amounts
In most Western diets, these foods are rarely eaten in meaningful quantities, making supplementation a consistent way to support intake.
What to look for in a vitamin K2 formula
The form matters, MK-7 is the most bioactive and longest-lasting type of vitamin K2, offering steady presence in the body with just a small daily dose. Just as important is synergy. Vitamin D3 and K2 work hand in hand in calcium balance: D3 contributes to normal absorption, while K2 plays its role in maintaining strong bones. Adding omega-3s brings an extra dimension, contributing to the normal function of the heart and supporting an integrated approach to everyday wellbeing.
MenaQ7™ – The gold standard in vitamin K2 (MK-7)
MenaQ7™ is the most clinically studied form of vitamin K2 as MK-7, developed by Gnosis by Lesaffre in Europe. Produced through carefully controlled fermentation, it delivers stability, bioactivity, and efficacy in precise microgram doses, making it one of the most trusted references in nutritional science. Supported by a broad body of published human studies in bone and vascular health, MenaQ7™ has earned recognition as the benchmark for vitamin K2 supplementation: consistent, traceable, and effective even at low daily doses.
Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. Knapen MHJ et al. Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2015).
👉 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25694037
Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women
Knapen MHJ et al. Osteoporosis International (2013).
👉 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23525894/
Steady-state vitamin K2 (MK-7) plasma concentrations after intake of dairy products and soft-gel capsules — European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2016).
👉 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26908424/
Where to find it
MenaQ7™ vitamin K2 is included in the Health Royals™ Peak performance formula, supplied at 90 µg per daily dose - equivalent to 120% of the general Vitamin K NRV.
👉 Explore the Peak performance formula
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Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for general informational purposes. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor should it be interpreted as making health claims. The content summarises ingredient characteristics based on publicly available research. Individual experiences may differ. For any questions regarding supplementation, nutrition, or personal health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions.
