Written by Steve Theunissen | ISSA: CPT & Fitness Nutrition
Fact checked by Robert Iafelice, MS, RD, LDN
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The term "vitamin K" refers to a group of fat-soluble vitamins that the body needs to make the protein prothrombin, which aids in blood clotting and controls bone metabolism.
Vitamin K is available in two major forms:
- Foods made of plants, such as leafy greens, contain vitamin K1 (phylloquinone).
- Foods derived from animals and fermented foods include vitamin K2 (menaquinone).
Vitamin K2 comes in a variety of subtypes. The most often used models are MK-4 and MK-7.
In order to stop excessive bleeding and bruising when blood vessels are broken, vitamins K1 and K2 both support healthy blood coagulation. They can help enhance heart health and calcium metabolism.
In this article, we reveal the 7 best vitamin K supplements on the market right now.
7 Best Vitamin K Supplements
- Overall Best: Nootropics Depot Vitamin D3 & K2
- Runner Up: Sports Research Vitamin K2
- Budget Pick: BulkSupplements K2
- M7 Supplement: Bronson Vitamin K2
- D3 & K2 Supplement: Sports Research D3 + K2
- Full Spectrum: InnovixLabs Full Spectrum Vitamin K2
- Liquid K2 & D3 Supplement: Nusava
SFS Pick
Nootropics Depot D3 & K2
2nd Pick
Sports Research K2
Budget Pick
BulkSupplements K2
1. Overall Best Vitamin K2 Supplement: Nootropics Depot Vitamin D3 & K2
Nootropics Depot Vitamins D3 & K2 bring together these two important vitamins to boost bone-strengthening. Vitamin D3 also improves cognitive functioning and has been shown to be the best-absorbed form of vitamin D. There are 5000 IUs of vitamin D3 in this supplement.
The vitamin K-2 used in this supplement is MK-7. It is sourced from fermented soy natto. The effects of vitamin K and vitamin D, including support for bone and cardiovascular health, are amplified by each other according to their strong synergistic connection. Research has also revealed that these two have cognitive advantages on their own, but they work best when combined!
Nootropics Depot also includes 225 mg of vitamin C to improve the stability of the other two vitamins.
A 60-capsule container of Nootropics Depot Vitamin D3 & K2 costs around $15. At a daily dosage of one capsule, that gives you two full months' worth of supplementation. The price per serving works out to around 25 cents.
Pros
- Combines K2 with D3
- Added vitamin c for increased stability
- Well priced
Cons
- Only one form of K2
Nootropics Depot offers 60ct. and 365ct. jars of high quality Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2 tablets. These tablets have been lab tested and verified for both product purity and identity...
2. Runner Up Best Vitamin K2 Supplement: Sports Research Vitamin K2
Sports Research Vitamin K2 combines the MK-7 variant of the vitamin with coconut oil. The addition of coconut oil is primarily to boost the absorption of fat-soluble vitamin K2.
Each soft gel capsule of Sports Research Vitamin K2 contains 100 mcg of K2, which is derived from chickpeas rather than soy. The actual capsule has a more cloudy appearance than competitors due to the addition of coconut oil.
This is the second vitamin K supplement from Sports Research on this list. That tells you something about the quality of this manufacturer. Sports Research has been in business since 1980 and now operates in more than 50 countries. Its products consistently rate highly on Amazon. As with all Sports Research supplements, you get a 90-day no questions asked guarantee with your purchase of Vitamin K2.
A 60-count bottle of Sports Research Vitamin K2 costs under $20.
Pros
- MK-7 form of vitamin K2 from chickpeas
- Added coconut oil for greater absorption
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Highly bioavailable form
Cons
- Does not include MK-4 form of vitamin K2
Formulated with MenaQ7 a patent form of MK7 that has been proven to accumulate in the bloodstream longer than MK4 and absorb 10x faster than Vitamin K1...
3. Best Budget Vitamin K2 Supplement: BulkSupplements K2
Bulk Supplements K2 is a simple product that contains nothing but MK-7 Vitamin K2.
Each soft gel capsule provides you with 100 mcg of the vitamin. MK-7 helps to transport calcium into the bloodstream to be taken to your bones and heart in order to make them stronger.
It is available in both soft gel and powder form, with the powder being available in quantities up to 5 kg.
You will pay around$14 for a 100 soft gel bag of Bulk Supplements K2. At a daily dosage of one capsule per day, that will give you more than three months' supplementation. The per-serving cost is under 15 cents, representing very good value for money.
Bulk Supplements have developed a reputation for providing quality, no-frills supplements at a great price and with excellent customer service. Their K2 supplement is another example of that.
Pros
- Great price
- Pure vitamin K2
- Excellent brand reputation
Cons
- Powdered form requires a scale to measure properly
BulkSupplements vitamin K2 MK-7 is an advanced formula of vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 as Menaquinone-7 (MK7) is required to transport...
4. Best M7 Supplement: Bronson Vitamin K2
Bronson Vitamin K2 is a pure K2 supplement. It is both gluten- and soy-free and has been non-GMO-tested. Additionally, it is 3rd party lab-tested to guarantee the best quality. Each capsule of this supplement contains 100 mcg of MK-7.
Bronson Vitamin K2 uses only the most accessible form of vitamin K is vitamin K2 as MK-7, which helps calcium get straight to the bones.
The founders of Bronson Vitamins were a group of pharmacists who saw personally how supplementing with vitamins and minerals helped their patients. Since its founding in 1960, leading medical specialists have frequently referred to Bronson Vitamins, establishing them as a highly reputable supplement manufacturer.
The price of a 120-capsule bottle of Bronson Vitamin K2 is around $15, or just over 10 cents per serving.
Pros
- Pure K2 MK-7 supplement
- Soy-free
- Great price
Cons
- Does not contain vitamin D3
Bronson’s Vitamin K2 as MK-7 provides the most bioavailable form of Vitamin K to support strong bones and healthy cardiovascular function...
5. Best D3 & K2 Supplement: Sports Research D3 + K2
Sports Research D3 + K2 is another product that combines K2 with vitamin D3 in order to improve its potency.
The vitamin D3 is derived from lichen in the form of VegaDELight vegan D3; the vitamin K2 is derived from chickpeas in the form of MenaQ7, and the capsules are made of vegan-approved PlantGelTM.
Sports Research D3 + K2 is the best-rated vitamin K2 supplement available on Amazon, with more than 89,000 five-star ratings. Sports Research also offers a 90-day, no-questions-asked return policy to demonstrate its commitment to its product.
A 60-day supply of Sports Research Vitamin K2 costs under $20, that works out to a per-serving cost of 30 cents.
Pros
- Formulated with K2 + D3
- Top rated on Amazon
- 90-day money back guarantee
Cons
- Does not include MK-4 version of vitamin K2
Our Vitamin D and K supplements are made with VegaDELight vegan D3, a patented plant based form of Vitamin D3 from lichen and MenaQ7, a patented...
6. Best Full Spectrum Vitamin K2: InnovixLabs Full Spectrum Vitamin K2
InnovixLabs Full Spectrum Vitamin K2 is a blend of the other two most popular forms of K2; MK-4 and MK-7. You get 500 mcg of MK-4 and 100 mcg of MK-7 in each capsule.
InnovixLabs takes pride in its openness and use of independent testing. It is one of the few brands whose labels include the lot number, product expiration dates, and the name of the independent testing facility. There are more than 4,000 five-star reviews on Amazon for this product.
Each bottle of InnovixLabs Full Spectrum Vitamin K2 costs just over $20 and contains 90 capsules. That breaks down to a cost per serving of around 25 cents, which puts it about the market average.
Pros
- Best Full Spectrum Vitamin K2
- Provides full testing transparency
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Some users have experienced digestion issues
InnovixLabs Full Spectrum Vitamin K2 promotes calcium transport into bones and not soft tissues...
7. Best Liquid K2 & D3 Supplement: Nusava D3 & K2
Nusava D3 K2 is a liquid form of the supplement that combines the health-giving benefits of vitamins D3 and K2, along with omega 3 and MCT oil.
Each dose contains 125 mcg (5000IU) of Vitamin D3, 120 mcg of Vitamin K2, 250mg of Omega 3, and a potent blend of organic ingredients.
The liquid form of the supplement is more quickly digested and absorbed into the body than the capsule or powder form. The potent blend of ingredients in this supplement makes it an excellent choice. Vitamin D3 regulates calcium which is vital for bone growth, boosting immune support, and maintaining muscle strength.
K2 activates proteins that are vital for calcium metabolism, a strong heart, and blood clotting. Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory properties, increases good cholesterol, and lowers triglycerides. Finally, MCT oil promotes weight loss and increases the absorption of all the other ingredients.
The serving size of Nusava D3 K2 is 1 ml. You can buy a twin pack of 30ml bottles on Amazon for a tad more than $20, that works out to a per-serving cost of around 40 cents. That's considerably higher than most other supplements on this list but pretty good for a liquid form of the supplement.
Pros
- Contains MCT Oil and Omega 3 fatty acids
- Liquid form for greater absorption
- Combines D3 and K2 for greater bone and heart health
Cons
- Doesn't taste good
Liquid Vitamin K2 D3 Formulated for Maximum Potency: Each dose contains 125 mcg (5000IU) of Vitamin D3, 120 mcg of Vitamin K, 250mg of Omega 3...
Benefits Of K2 Vitamin Supplements:
Even though most people haven't even heard of it, Vitamin K2 is highly beneficial to our health. It was discovered in 1929 and identified as having a key role in blood clotting. Since then, many other benefits have been uncovered.
Proteins involved in calcium metabolism, blood clotting, and heart function are activated by vitamin K. Controlling calcium deposition is one of its most crucial roles. In other words, it encourages bone calcification while inhibiting kidney and blood vascular calcification.
Vitamins K1 and K2 play quite different roles, according to some scientists, and many believe they should be categorized as separate nutrients entirely.
Researchers have also noted that vitamin K2 supplements often enhance bone, soft tissue elasticity, and heart health in human tests, while vitamin K1 necessary for blood coagulation.
Before the functional variations between vitamins K1 and K2 can be fully appreciated; more human research is needed.
Many people these days suffer from a vitamin K deficiency, so make sure to check out the four main benefits of vitamin K supplementation.
1. Promotes Healthy Bones
Calcium, the primary element present in your bones and teeth, is metabolized in large part thanks to vitamin K2.
Two proteins, matrix GLA protein and osteocalcin, which support bone growth and maintenance, are activated by vitamin K2 to bind calcium.
It's interesting to note that there is strong evidence from controlled research that K2 may have significant advantages for bone health.
In one study, 244 postmenopausal women participated in a 3-year trial that revealed those who took vitamin K2 supplements experienced considerably slower declines in age-related bone mineral density.1
Although relatively large doses were employed in these experiments, long-term research in Japanese women found comparable advantages with much smaller doses. Only one study out of 13 failed to show a discernible improvement.2
Vitamin K2 decreased all non-spinal fractures by 81%, hip fractures by 77%, and spinal fractures by 60% in seven of these trials. This clearly shows how vitamin K helps support bone health.
Based on these findings, vitamin K supplements are formally advised in Japan for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
2. May Help Prevent Heart Disease
A major risk factor for heart disease is calcium buildup in the arteries surrounding the heart.
Anything that can lessen this calcium buildup might aid in heart disease prevention. It is thought that vitamin K helps by preventing calcium from depositing in your arteries.
In a 7–10 year trial, participants who consumed the most vitamin K2 had a 57% lower chance of dying from heart disease and were 52% less likely to experience arterial calcification.3
Another study of 16,057 women discovered that those who drank the most vitamin K2 had a much lower risk of heart disease; for every 10 mcg of K2 they took daily, their risk of heart disease was decreased by 9%.4
3. Improves Dental Health
Despite a number of researchers speculating that supplementing with Vitamin K2 may improve dental health, there have been no human studies to date to confirm this.
However, it makes sense to think that vitamin K2 has an impact on oral health, given animal studies and the role it plays in bone metabolism.
Osteocalcin, a crucial protein for bone metabolism triggered by vitamin K2, is one of the key proteins that control dental health.
The calcified tissue under the enamel of your teeth called dentin, and new bone formation, are stimulated by a mechanism that is set off by osteocalcin.
Additionally, vitamin K2 is thought to operate in conjunction with vitamins A and D to help improve dental health.5
4. May Help Fight Cancer
A number of studies have been done regarding a possible link between vitamin K2 and cancer prevention. Two studies suggest that K2 supplementation may help to reduce liver cancer recurrence and to increase the lifespan of people with liver cancer. More research is needed to be able to state definitively whether or not vitamin K2 helps to fight cancer.6
What To Look For When Buying K2 Vitamin Supplements:
Here's what to look for to make sure that you are getting the best quality K2 vitamin supplement.
1. Ingredients/Dosages
The ingredient list for a quality Vitamin K2 supplement is pretty simple - it should contain only that vitamin. However, there are a number of different subtypes of this vitamin. So, you need to decide whether to buy a product that has just one sub-type or that combines all of them.
The two forms that are most often used in supplements are MK-4 and MK-7. MK-4 is a synthetic version, while MK-7 is natural and is derived from natto, which is made from fermented soybeans. MK-7 has a greater shelf life, so the dosage doesn't need to be as high.
The recommended dosage of a vitamin K supplement for adult males is 120 mcg per day (90 mcg for females). For children, the recommended dosage is 30-60 mcg per day.
2. Testing
We recommend only buying your K2 fat-soluble vitamins from a manufacturer who uses an independent research laboratory to conduct 3rd party testing. This will give you confidence that what's in the capsule is exactly what is listed on the product label.
3. Price Per Serving
The best way to compare supplement value for money is on a price-per-serving basis. There is quite a wide range of pricing for this supplement, rating from 6 cents to 39 cents per serving. That gives us an average price per serving of 17.5 cents.
4. Reviews
By checking online reviews from verified purchasers, you will be able to get a good idea as to whether the supplement causes any common side effects. These may include bloating, gas and diarrhea. You should also check on the level of customer service.
Vitamin K2 Supplement FAQ
Is vitamin K2 worth taking?
Yes, vitamin K2 is worth taking. The majority of people are unable to meet their daily need for K2 from a whole-food diet. Taking a K2 supplement can help you to improve your heart, dental, and bone health. It may also help in the fight against cancer.
What is the best form of vitamin K2 to take?
The best form of Vitamin K2 to take depends on the reason you're taking it. K2 MK-4 is better to improve bone health, reduce bone loss and lower the chance of fractures. While MK-7 stays in your body longer and is more bioavailable and is taking for a variety of health reasons.
Which is better K2 4 or K2 7?
K2 MK-4 is a synthetic form of Vitamin K2, while K2 MK-7 is natural. Many people take K2 MK-4 to improve bone health, while K2 MK-7 is taken for a variety of reasons.
How much vitamin K2 do you need per day?
The recommended dosage for dietary vitamin for adult males is 120 mcg per day (90 mcg for females). For children, the recommended dosage is 30-60 mcg per day.
Summary
Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble natural vitamin that has been shown to improve bone density, dental, heart, and overall bone health. Most of us don't get enough of it through our normal diet.
The best supplementary form of vitamin K2 is Nootropics Depot Vitamin D3 & K2, which combines vitamin K with vitamin D3 to provide an enhanced synergistic effect. Nootropics have also included vitamin C to improve the stability of the other dietary supplements.
We hope this post on the best vitamin K supplements helps you navigate the vast world of dietary supplements.
Nootropics Depot offers 60ct. and 365ct. jars of high quality Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K2 tablets. These tablets have been lab tested and verified for both product purity and identity...
Looking for more vitamin supplements? Check out the post we wrote that covers the Top Vitamin D Supplements on the market.
References
- Knapen, M. H. J., et al. “Three-Year Low-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Helps Decrease Bone Loss in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.” Osteoporosis International, vol. 24, no. 9, 23 Mar. 2013, pp. 2499–2507, 10.1007/s00198-013-2325-6.
- Cockayne S, Adamson J, Lanham-New S, Shearer MJ, Gilbody S, Torgerson DJ. Vitamin K and the prevention of fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Jun 26;166(12):1256-61. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.12.1256. Erratum in: JAMA Intern Med. 2018 Jun 1;178(6):875-876. PMID: 16801507.
- Geleijnse JM, Vermeer C, Grobbee DE, Schurgers LJ, Knapen MH, van der Meer IM, Hofman A, Witteman JC. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study. J Nutr. 2004 Nov;134(11):3100-5. doi: 10.1093/jn/134.11.3100. PMID: 15514282.
- Gast GC, de Roos NM, Sluijs I, Bots ML, Beulens JW, Geleijnse JM, Witteman JC, Grobbee DE, Peeters PH, van der Schouw YT. A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Sep;19(7):504-10. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2008.10.004. Epub 2009 Jan 28. PMID: 19179058.
- Oliva A, Della Ragione F, Fratta M, Marrone G, Palumbo R, Zappia V. Effect of retinoic acid on osteocalcin gene expression in human osteoblasts. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993 Mar 31;191(3):908-14. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1993.1303. PMID: 8466530.
- Mizuta T, Ozaki I, Eguchi Y, Yasutake T, Kawazoe S, Fujimoto K, Yamamoto K. The effect of menatetrenone, a vitamin K2 analog, on disease recurrence and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment: a pilot study. Cancer. 2006 Feb 15;106(4):867-72. doi: 10.1002/cncr.21667. PMID: 16400650.
Steve Theunissen
Author