Menaquinone 7 (MK-7) is a vitamin K
2 analog that has been found in a variety of fermented foods.
1 It increases osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and RANKL mRNA expression in osteoblastic MC3T3E cells. MK-7 (1 μM) increases alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content in femoral-metaphyseal tissues isolated from normal and skeletal-unloaded rats.
2 In vivo, MK-7 (100 μg/g diet) inhibits aortic and myocardial calcification and decreases aortic alkaline phosphatase tissue concentrations in a rat model of extraosseous calcification.
3 It also increases trabecular number, bone mineral density, and bone mineral content in a rat model of ovariectomy-induced bone loss.
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