Yamamoto Vitamin K2 & D3

Yamamoto® Research Vitamina K2 + D3 is a food supplement of vitamin K2 with high dose vitamin D3. Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting and to the maintenance of normal bones*. Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus and to normal blood calcium levels, and it supports the maintenance of normal bones and teeth.

Vitamin K2 is much less well-known than other vitamins, and it is only recently that research has increasingly highlighted its important role, in particular for the health of the heart, bones, and brain. It has become the subject of continuous investigation and therefore a nutraceutical of great value in the clinical field and in preventive medicine.
K2, or menaquinone, is a fat-soluble vitamin belonging to the vitamin K family. Vitamin K1, also known as “phylloquinone”, is found in plants and is converted to vitamin K2 in the body, so this form is considered the least effective because it depends on conversion to the “more active” K2 form, in order to ensure any notable effects. Then there is vitamin K2 MK-4, found in meat, eggs and dairy products, and vitamin K2 MK-7, the most studied form of vitamin K which preserves cardiovascular and bone health. It has a high level of bioavailability, and is rapidly absorbed and metabolised by the body. This form of vitamin K is found in grass-fed meat, or in the fermented soybeans (natto) typical in Japanese food, and in fermented cheeses, so it is rather difficult to find in our modern western food.

It was “discovered” at the end of the 1990s, and since then this “young vitamin” and its highly significant biochemical action have been gaining exposure. It is produced by intestinal flora bacteria, giving rise to various groups of molecules including the long-chain “menaquinones”, the most active, which as mentioned can be found in fermented products such as natto, live culture yoghurt, kefir or in grass-fed meat.

Our supplement uses vitamin K2-MK7 in the “MenaQ7®” form, the only clinically proven patent on the market, the one most used in the increasing research*, with support from various quality certifications (including “Best Functional Ingredient” from NutrAward in 2015) and produced according to the highest safety standards.
This fundamental vitamin’s valuable beneficial effects, especially but not exclusively on cardiovascular and bone health, are emerging from scientific research.

Vitamin K2’s protective effect on the cardiovascular level is due to its ability to activate MGP (Matrix Gla Protein), which prevents precipitation in the form of crystals in the arterial wall by binding the calcium circulating in the blood, thus avoiding the formation of atheromatous plaque along with cholesterol. Since arterial calcification is one of the major cardiovascular risks and one of the causes of hypertension in old age, linked to lower elasticity of the vessels, it is increasingly important to avoid deficiency of this vitamin, which has the special quality of “directing” the calcium towards the bones, supporting them in calcification while also descaling the arteries and making them more elastic. Important studies show that “if there is vitamin K2 deficiency, failure to activate MGP will lead to significant arterial calcification, but it also shows that the condition could be corrected in patients with diabetes through the use of vitamin K2 supplements. Vitamin K2/MK-7 has been shown to reduce active Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) levels and reduce arterial stiffness in both healthy subjects and patients with kidney disease.” These noteworthy studies (which can be found at the foot of the presentation) confirm once again that regular vitamin K2 supplements can play a very important role in prevention and cardiovascular health.

At the bone level, in fact, it slows down the action of the cells responsible for bone resorption (osteoclasts), while activating osteocalcin, a protein that stimulates the adhesion and fixation of calcium to the bone and teeth, making them more resistant and flexible. There is therefore a reduced risk of diseases of the skeleton, such as osteoporosis. In fact, research has demonstrated a reduced risk of fracture regardless of bone mineralisation levels. In this sense, then, there is clear synergy with vitamin D3, which we have deliberately included in our supplement, to ensure even more effective improvement to bone density. In addition, vitamin K2 helps strengthen cartilaginous tissue, joints and the vertebral column. Nowadays, thanks to its valuable properties, it is increasingly used in cases of degenerative osteoarthritis or bone demineralisation, as in the stage of “osteopenia” or “osteoporosis” which occurs physiologically after the menopause, to reduce the associated potential risks. Especially after the menopause, the synergy between vitamins K2 and D3 is a true panacea at the bone and cardiovascular level, as they counteract loss of bone density, playing a valuable role in remineralisation. They are therefore already effective in the event of loss of bone density, from the initial osteopathy to the established osteoporosis, which are typical situations often associated with the oestrogen decline that occurs with the arrival of the menopause.
There are numerous confirmations that highlight vitamin K2’s benefits to the brain, and it has also been noted that vitamin K2 is very helpful in preventing stroke damage or even counteracting simple “brain ageing”. It is also particularly valued in the “anti-ageing” medicine and beauty fields, with well-known benefits for the skin. In fact, vitamin K2 counteracts the loss of collagen, keeping the skin more toned and younger-looking, working against the formation of unsightly wrinkles and “bags” under the eyes.

In the midst of the vast world of food supplements, our vitamin K2 and D3 supplement derives from substantial scientific research supporting its use as a nutraceutical, increasingly recognised and respected in the medical field, for preventing cardiovascular problems and assisting with bone health.