Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) and bone density

What 3 graded rows on vitamin k2 (mk-7 vs mk-4) agree on for bone density, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) page, with its PubMed record.

Your question

Bone density3 Arterial calcification3 Bones & joints2 Heart2

Supplement

Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) Choose another

Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) and bone density

3 rows · 793 people

Split. 1 row found no difference and 2 had mixed results.

No difference or mixed

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside. Outlined: mixed results.

Grade C× 2
No effect× 1

Rows: 3
Trials: 3
People: 793

What the rows share

From the rows

The best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 311 people (2020) and reported mixed results. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.

The rows run from 148 to 334 people, published from 2010 to 2020: 3 single studies.

The rows

1 no difference · 2 mixed

No effectBone loss in early menopause with MK-7 · No difference
RCT · n 334 · 2010 · Healthy Norwegian women aged 50 to 60, 1 to 5 years after menopause
360 mcg/day · 12 months
No difference in bone loss at the total hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine or total body versus placebo; carboxylated osteocalcin rose and undercarboxylated osteocalcin fell.
Row on the Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) page · PubMed 19937427 (opens PubMed)
Grade CBone density with low-dose vitamin K2 · Mixed
RCT · n 311 · 2020 · Community-dwelling men and postmenopausal women aged 50 to 75 (China)
50 or 90 mcg/day, one 90 mcg arm with calcium 500 mg and vitamin D3 10 mcg · 1 year
Femoral neck bone loss was lower than placebo in postmenopausal women in both 90 mcg groups; no effect was seen in men, and adding calcium and vitamin D3 gave no extra benefit.
Row on the Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) page · PubMed 32060566 (opens PubMed)
Grade CBone density and bone microarchitecture with MK-7 · Mixed
RCT · n 148 · 2016 · Postmenopausal women with osteopenia (Denmark), all given calcium and vitamin D
375 mcg/day · 12 months
No difference in bone density at any site. On high-resolution CT, trabecular number, spacing and thickness at the tibia stayed stable on MK-7 but changed with placebo (P < 0.05); the radius did not differ.
Row on the Vitamin K2 (MK-7 vs MK-4) page · PubMed 27625301 (opens PubMed)

Read onRead the full evidenceThe full evidence chapter on its page, with every outcome and its sources.