Formulating the Best Liquid Vitamin K2 Supplement: A Novel Solution
Vitamin K is one of the four vital fat-soluble vitamins essential for various physiological functions in the human body. This vitamin particularly targets blood coagulation and bone health. Having enough vitamin K in your system can help reduce your risk of various health issues.
Here we get into the foundations of vitamin K from a formulation perspective, including how it operates. We also examine why creating a stable, effective liquid Vitamin K supplement is so challenging, presenting a novel solution to address solubility and stability issues. Here’s what you need to know to bring the best K supplement to market.
The Role of Vitamin K in the Human Body
Vitamin K is crucial for the synthesis of several proteins involved in blood coagulation, including prothrombin (factor II) and factors VII, IX, and X. These proteins require vitamin K for a post-translational modification known as carboxylation, which enables them to bind calcium ions effectively. This binding is essential for their biological activity and plays a significant role in what is known as the coagulation cascade, helping to prevent excessive bleeding in various health scenarios.
Moreover, vitamin K is linked to bone metabolism. It activates osteocalcin, a protein that helps bind calcium in bones, contributing to bone density and overall skeletal health. Deficiencies in vitamin K have been associated with osteoporosis and increased fracture risk in adults.
Mechanisms of Action
Vitamin K exists primarily in two forms: phylloquinone (K1), found in green leafy vegetables, and menaquinone (K2), produced by gut bacteria and found in nattō. Its main role is to help activate certain proteins by inducing a small structural change called ‘carboxylation.’
This process, done by an enzyme that relies on vitamin K, allows proteins to work properly. For example, in joints, vitamin K can help prevent calcification (hardening) and may boost the production of type II collagen.
Interestingly, there appear to be some differences in the pharmacology of vitamin K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 primarily aids in blood coagulation, while vitamin K2 also does this in addition to playing crucial roles in bone health, cardiovascular health, and calcium metabolism above and beyond K1. K2 helps to transport calcium to bones and teeth, preventing its deposition in soft tissues like arteries, which is linked to heart disease. Additionally, K2 has a longer half-life in the body, allowing it to exert its effects more effectively over time. Overall, K1 is essential for clotting, whereas K2 supports broader health benefits.
Not having enough vitamin K can cause serious issues, which is why newborns, whom naturally have low levels of vitamin K, are generally advised by health authorities to obtain vitamin K supplementation shortly after birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding, or VKDB.
Current Vitamin K Options Are Failing the Test
Vitamin K is found in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, chard, collard greens, and broccoli. However, the bioavailability of phylloquinone varies significantly depending on its source.
For instance, while free phylloquinone has an absorption rate of approximately 80%, its absorption from food sources like spinach is as low as 4% to 17% compared to supplements. This discrepancy raises concerns about the effectiveness of dietary sources versus supplements. Despite the critical role of vitamin K, many products on the market do not contain the levels they claim.
Issues with formulation techniques
The majority of vitamin K products may not deliver adequate amounts due to poor formulation techniques. Many formulations do not account for the fact that phylloquinone in plant foods is tightly bound within chloroplasts to the thylakoid membrane, making it less bioavailable than when consumed through oils or supplements. This limitation emphasizes the need for improved product formulations that enhance absorption.
Vitamin K plays an indispensable role in blood coagulation and bone health through its unique mechanisms of action involving carboxylation processes. However, current market offerings often fail to provide sufficient levels due to bioavailability issues and formulation challenges. As research continues to evolve, consumers must be aware of these factors when considering vitamin K supplementation for optimal health outcomes.
Misleading labeling of vitamin K products
Most vitamin K products do not contain the levels they claim on the label due to the ongoing stability challenge facing manufacturers. A study of vitamin K products tested for K2 content compared actual content against stated label claims.
The study, conducted by a leading analytical lab, reported on 79 products — 39 containing unprotected or naturally fermented K2 plus calcium or magnesium products. Of these 39 products, half missed the K2 content label claim by 50% or more. Further, 20% contained less than 10% of K2 label claims. Four products had no measurable K2 at all. A mere 8% of unprotected K2-plus-minerals products met or were close to label claim.
However, some of the products in the study used different formulation techniques, protecting the K2 via microencapsulation. This appeared to help prevent the breakdown of vitamin K during the product’s shelf life. Spokes Sciences’ encapsulation technologies allow for exactly the type of formulation required to prevent the degradation of liquid vitamin K products.
A Better Formulation: IsoCaps VITAL
IsoCaps VITAL uses specialized encapsulation methods to increase the solubility and stability of vitamin K products, allowing you to develop and market the best vitamin K supplement, shot or beverage possible.
Just one milliliter provides 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins A, D, E, and K (specifically, 0.12 mg of vitamin K in each 1 ml serving.)
These vitamins are dispersed in water using only GRAS ingredients, making it easy to incorporate them into virtually any beverage or topical product formulation. Other beneficial components include tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate that act both as nutrients and stabilizers
Contact us to learn more about formulating with Spoke Sciences’ IsoCaps VITAL and deliver a functional product that encourages consumers to choose your product over your competitors.