Vitamin K2 as MK-7, fermented from chickpeas
What MK-7 is, where ours comes from, and why it shares a capsule with our vitamin D3.
Every capsule of Whole Food Vitamin D3 + K2 contains 50 mcg of vitamin K2 as MenaQ7® menaquinone-7, fermented from non-GMO chickpeas. This page sets out what MK-7 is, where ours comes from, and why it shares a capsule with our vitamin D3.
Our K2 at a glance
| Label name | Vitamin K (as Menaquinone-7) (MenaQ7®) |
|---|---|
| Form | Vitamin K2, menaquinone-7 (MK-7) |
| Source | Fermented non-GMO chickpeas. Not natto, not soy. |
| Amount per capsule | 50 mcg |
| Found in | Whole Food Vitamin D3 + K2, alongside 5,000 IU (125 mcg) of vitamin D3 from lichen |
| Made in | An FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility in Hauppauge, New York |
| Tested | Vitamin D3 and K2 measured by our manufacturer in every lot. Each current lot also passed independent heavy metal and microbe testing (lab results). |
What vitamin K2 and MK-7 are
Vitamin K is a family of compounds, not one molecule. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) comes mostly from green leafy vegetables. Vitamin K2 is a group called menaquinones, which are mostly made by bacteria and turn up in small amounts in fermented foods, meat, dairy and eggs.
Menaquinones are named MK-4 through MK-13, after the length of their side chain. MK-7 is one of the three best studied, along with MK-4 and MK-9, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Because menaquinones come from bacteria, an MK-7 ingredient is made by fermentation. Ours is fermented from chickpeas.
Why we name the ingredient
"Vitamin K2" on a label can mean several quite different forms. Naming MenaQ7® tells you exactly which form you are getting and who makes it. That is the same reason our label says the vitamin D3 comes from lichen rather than just saying vitamin D3.
Why K2 sits beside vitamin D3
Vitamin D helps your body take up calcium, and K2 is included to support normal calcium metabolism in the body.* Katie calls K2 vitamin D's best friend, and she built the formula so the two arrive together in one capsule. It also pairs with our Whole Food Calcium, made from eggshell and red marine algae.
How much K2 is 50 mcg?
The Food and Nutrition Board sets Adequate Intakes for vitamin K at 90 to 120 mcg a day for adults, depending on age and sex, from all sources. Most of that usually comes from food as K1. Our 50 mcg is the K2 in one capsule, taken once a day with food as the label directs.
If you are pregnant, nursing or taking any medications, talk to your healthcare practitioner before use. That caution is printed on our label, and it matters for vitamin K in particular.
What is vitamin K2 MK-7?
Vitamin K2 is a group of compounds called menaquinones. They are named MK-4 through MK-13 after the length of their side chain, and MK-7 is one of the most studied. MK-7 is made by bacteria, so supplement MK-7 is produced by fermentation.
What is the difference between MK-7 and MK-4?
Both are forms of vitamin K2. They differ in the length of their side chain. MK-4 is the form the body makes from vitamin K1, while MK-7 comes from bacterial fermentation. Our formula uses MK-7.
What is MenaQ7®?
A branded form of vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7, produced by fermenting non-GMO chickpeas. Naming the branded ingredient tells you which form of K2 you are getting and who made it.
Where does your vitamin K2 come from?
Fermented non-GMO chickpeas. The label reads "Vitamin K2 derived from fermented chickpeas."
Is your K2 made from natto or soy?
No. Many K2 ingredients come from natto, a fermented soybean food. Ours is fermented from chickpeas.
How much vitamin K2 is in each capsule?
50 mcg of vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7, in the same capsule as 5,000 IU (125 mcg) of vitamin D3 from lichen.
Why is vitamin K2 paired with vitamin D3?
Vitamin D helps your body take up calcium, and K2 is included to support normal calcium metabolism in the body.* That is also why the formula pairs well with our Whole Food Calcium.
Should I check with a practitioner before taking K2?
If you are pregnant, nursing or taking any medications, yes. Our label says to consult your healthcare practitioner before use, and that matters for vitamin K in particular.
How do I take it?
One capsule of Whole Food Vitamin D3 + K2 daily with food, as the label directs.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
