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Vitamin · in-depth review

Vitamin K2 (MK-9)

Vitamin K2 (MK-9)

MK-9 is a still-longer-chain menaquinone that appears in trace amounts in fermented cheeses. Structurally it has two more isoprene units and can likewise serve as a γ-carboxylase cofactor.

Also known asMK-9
Related diseasesOsteoporosis
Related symptomsSlow wound healing

Marked asPrimarySupporting

Primary

Promotes bone mineralization

Some hard fermented cheeses contain MK-9, which in principle can also serve as γ-carboxylase cofactor and activate osteocalcin. Bacteria make it during fermentation; cheese lovers take in traces, and bone-matrix carboxylation substrate arrives along this longer-chain menaquinone.

Primary

Protects vessel walls

MK-9 can also carboxylate matrix Gla protein so vessel walls bind surplus calcium crystals. Supplements rarely isolate MK-9; it is part of the fermented-dairy menaquinone spectrum, and a cheese diet sends this longer chain to extrahepatic carboxylation paths.

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Slow wound healing

Some hard fermented cheeses contain MK-9, which in principle can also serve as γ-carboxylase cofactor and activate osteocalcin. People whose small cuts crust slowly and keep splitting more often notice healing speed and a smoother scar surface after several continuous weeks.

Osteoporosis

Some hard fermented cheeses contain MK-9, which in principle can also serve as γ-carboxylase cofactor and activate osteocalcin. People with low bone density who worry about fracture risk more often notice follow-up scans and confidence moving after several continuous weeks.

With foodBest taken with food (not on an empty stomach)
Best timeMorning or midday
SolubilityFat-soluble

Check the mcg of MK-4 / MK-7 / MK-9 per capsule first.

General wellness120 mcg/day for adult men; 90 mcg/day for adult women (AI)
Specific needsNo official UL; typical adult supplement daily safety upper limit is about 1,000 mcg. people on anticoagulants must not self-adjust, must be decided by a clinician.

How oftenUse the adequate daily intake; anyone on anticoagulants must ask a doctor first.

Cautions

People with cholestasis or fat malabsorption should ask a clinician first.

People on vitamin K antagonists must keep intake stable and follow clinician monitoring.

Interactions

  1. Warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists (intake must stay stable)
Common side effects

· Usual food and supplement amounts are generally well tolerated

Rare but important

· Unstable anticoagulation control may increase thrombosis risk.

Long-term dependenceDoes not cause addiction or typical tolerance.

Sources

These are institution pages you can check—not a certification of this ingredient.

Medical disclaimerThis page is compiled by the HerbBB editorial team for general health information only. It is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified clinician. If you have a health condition, take medicines, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with a professional first.