2024-05-31 14:00:00  Author | Wencheng WANG | Latest academic developments

 |Classic (Xiamen) science and Technology Co., Ltd |https://www.cazzicteca.com/:

(Note: MK-7 is a specific form within the vitamin K2 family. Vitamin K2 is a collective term for a series of compounds, with other common subtypes including MK-4 (menaquinone-4). The term "vitamin K2 supplements" in general parlance typically refers to either MK-7 or MK-4.)

Postmenopausal women exhibit significantly elevated blood pressure, increased vascular stiffness, greater intima-media thickness, and enlarged carotid artery diameter. These physiological changes collectively indicate a substantially heightened risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.

On February 27, 2025, de Vries et al. published a study titled "Effects of One-Year Menaquinone-7 Supplementation on Vascular Stiffness and Blood Pressure in Post-Menopausal Women" in the journal Nutrients. The clinical conclusions of the study demonstrate that a daily supplementation of 180 µg of MK-7 for one year can significantly improve vascular stiffness and blood pressure in postmenopausal women.1

I.Study Methodology

This was a high-level, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical intervention trial. A total of 165 postmenopausal women with plasma desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP) levels > 400 pmol/L were randomly assigned to two groups: the MK-7 group (n = 82), which received a daily dose of 180 µg MK-7, and the control group (n = 83), which received a matching placebo, for a duration of one year.

II.Study Results (Compared to the Control Group):

.Plasma dp-ucMGP Levels: Significantly decreased in the MK-7 group (p < 0.01), accompanied by a significant increase in vitamin K2 status.

.Vascular Stiffness (Young's Modulus): The control group showed an increase of +49.1% ± 77.4%, whereas the MK-7 group showed an increase of only +9.4% ± 67.1% (p = 0.035), indicating a significant improvement in the vascular stiffness index in the MK-7 group.

.Postmenopausal Women with High Vascular Stiffness Index: Demonstrated reduced brachial blood pressure (-3.0% ± 9.0%; p = 0.007), reduced carotid blood pressure (-4.49% ± 11.0%; p = 0.008), and a decrease in the distensibility coefficient (-12.7% ± 32.6%; p = 0.012).

III. Study Conclusions:

This study corroborates the findings of two previous studies by Knapen et al. and Vermeer et al., which demonstrated that MK-7 supplementation improves vascular wall stiffness in postmenopausal women . A daily supplementation of 180 µg MK-7 for one year can significantly improve vascular stiffness, the distensibility coefficient, and blood pressure in postmenopausal women.2.3

Editor's Note:

This study further confirms that a one-year daily supplementation of 180 µg MK-7 can improve vascular wall stiffness, the distensibility coefficient, and blood pressure in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, long-term MK-7 supplementation in middle-aged and elderly individuals may yield additional health benefits. Therefore, we recommend MK-7 supplementation to promote overall health.

[Literature Source]

[1] de Vries, F.; Bittner, R.; Maresz, K.; Machuron, F.; Gåserød, O.; Jeanne, J.-F.; Schurgers, L.J. Effects of One-Year Menaquinone-7 Supplementation on Vascular Stiffness and Blood Pressure in Post-Menopausal Women. Nutrients 2025, 17, 815. https://doi.org/10.3390/ nu17050815

[2] Knapen, M.H.; Braam, L.A.; Drummen, N.E.; Bekers, O.; Hoeks, A.P.; Vermeer, C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thromb. Haemost. 2015, 113,1135–1144.

[3] Vermeer, C.; Hogne, V. Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: Results from a one-year study. Vasc. Dis. Ther. 2020, 5, 1–4.

About Author: Wencheng WANG:

 from Classic (Xiamen) science and Technology Co., Ltd.  https://www.cazzicteca.com/

Wencheng WANG

Senior Food Engineer

Senior Nutritionist certified by the Chinese Nutrition Society.(https://en.cnsoc.org/)

He currently serves as  Director of the Research Center at Classic (Xiamen) Technology Co., Ltd.  https://www.cazzicteca.com

A 1995 graduate of Nanchang University(https://english.ncu.edu.cn/)—ranked third in China for its Food Science program—Mr. Wang has dedicated his career to food R&D, food testing, and food safety. From 1995 to 2002, he held various positions at the Jiujiang Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute in Jiangxi Province, including Food Inspector, Investigator, Laboratory Director, Quality Manager, and Deputy Director of the Institute. He has also served as Quality Control Director and Technical Director for foreign-invested enterprises in Australia and France.

Mr. Wang has published over 10 papers in national core journals and provincial/ministerial journals. His representative works include:

1.On the Importance of Food Testing for Food Safety – Scientific American (Global Science)(https://www.scientificamerican.com/), 2026

2.Analysis of Food Additives and Food Safety Issues – Scientific American (Global Science)(https://www.scientificamerican.com/), 2026

3.Analysis of Safety Testing for Genetically Modified Foods – Food and Nutrition in China(https://www.caas.cn/en/), Issue 2, 2012

4.International Analysis of Safety Testing for Genetically Modified Foods – Grain Processing, （https://www.lsjgzz.cn/）Issue 5, 2011

5.Analysis of Interference Factors in the Determination of Tea Polyphenol Content – : Food Science And Technology And Economy（https://lskj.cbpt.cnki.net/portal） Issue 4, 2011

6.Inspection Services: A New Horizon for Quality Inspection Agencies – China Quality Supervision, Issue 8, 2000