Vitamin K supplements with the fewest additives
I'll leave it to Chris Masterjohn's appropriately-named Ultimate Vitamin K2 Resource to explain the benefits of vitamin K. However, a lot of common brands have inadequate doses or excipients that I prefer to avoid. After comparing the products I'm aware of, I'd suggest the following:
Suggested vitamin K supplements:
I'd suggest either of the following, I've tried both and been happy with them. I prefer them because they're primarily MK-4, have minimal added ingredients, and are in liquid form. See the additional sections below if you need other options.
They're both expensive, but aren't bad per-dose if you take doses comparable to other brands. I also have some tips in the absorption section below for improving how much you get out of each dose.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- lecithin-free
Vitamin K2 (as menatetrenone, MK4), medium chain triglyceride oil, mixed tocopherols.
Note for the soy-sensitive: The mixed tocopherols are probably derived from soy.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- lecithin-free
Vitamin K2, MCT oil (from coconuts).
Need MK-7 instead?
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- lecithin-free
Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7 from chickpea, MenaQ7), medium chain triglyceride oil (coconut and palm source).
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- lecithin-free
Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7 from chickpea, MenaQ7), coconut oil, vegetarian softgel (tapioca starch, kosher vegetable glycerin, purified water).
Need an MK-4/MK-7 combo instead?
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- lecithin-free
Vitamin K2 MK-4 (as menatetrone), vitamin K2 MK-7 (as menaquinone-7), extra virgin olive oil, palm oil MCT, gelatin (bovine source, Halal Certified), glycerin, purified water, caramel color (natural source).
Need an MK-4, MK-7, vitamin K1 combo instead?
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- lecithin-free
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin K1 (phylioquinine), vitamin K2 (menaquinone-4), vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7), extra virgin olive oil, bovine gelatin, glycerin, purified water, organic caramel.
Other vitamin K supplements
The following are other vitamin K supplements I looked at. They're sorted alphabetically if you want to compare ingredients.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Advanced Orthomolecular Research AOR Advanced Series Peak K2 (Veggie Capsules) | Menatetrenone (MK-4), microcrystalline cellulose, capsule: hypromellose, water. |
| Bluebonnet Nutrition Vitamin K (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K-1 (phytonadione), calcium phosphate, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, silica, vegetable glaze. |
| Carlson Labs Vitamin K2 (Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menatetrenone), cellulose, magnesium stearate, silica, vegetable stearin, gelatin capsule. |
| Country Life Gluten Free Vitamin K1 (Tablets) | Vitamin K (as phytonadione), cellulose, stearic acid, cellulose & glycerin coating, silica, magnesium stearate, vegetable glaze. |
| Doctor's Best Natural Vitamin K2 Menaq7 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K (as vitamin K2 from 45 mcg of MenaQ7), cellulose, vegetable capsule, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), silicon dioxide. Contains milk protein (sodium caseinate). |
| Dr Mercola Vitamin K2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7 from fermented chickpea extract), microcrystalline cellulose, glycerol monostearate, alpha tocopherol acetate, Vcaps capsules (hydroxpropylmethylcellulose). |
| IdeaLabs Kuinone | Vitamin K2 (as menatetrenone, MK4), DMSO. |
| Innerzyme Vitamin K2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7 from fermented soybeans), HPMC (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose), vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide. |
| Jarrow Formulas MK-7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (Softgels) | MK-7 (vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7) (from natto extract), medium chain triglycerides, evening primrose oil, and soybean oil, softgel consists of gelatin, water, glycerine and caramel (as a light barrier). Contains: soy. |
| Life Enhancement ProsStay (Capsules) | Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin K3 (menadione), gelatin capsule, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide. |
| Life Extension Low Dose Vitamin K2 (Softgels) | Vitamin K2 (as all-trans menaquinone-7), medium chain triglycerides, gelatin, glycerin, purified water, carob color. |
| Life Extension Super K with Advanced K2 Complex (Softgels) | Vitamin C (as ascorbyl palmitate), vitamin K1 (as phytonadione), vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-4 and all-trans menaquinone-7), extra virgin olive oil, gelatin, glycerin, beeswax, purified water, maltodextrin, carob color. Contains soybeans. |
| MaxX Labs Vitamin K2 Complex (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menatetrone), vitamin K2 (as MK-7 from natto), calcium citrate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (capsule), rice flour. |
| Nature's Life K-2 Menatetrenone (Tablets) | Vitamin K (k-2) (menatetrenone), cellulose, silica and magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Plus Source of Life Garden Vitamin K2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7), (from certified organic natto), certified organic gold standard whole food blend: organic acerola extract, apple fruit, broccoli sprout, cauliflower sprout, collard, cordyceps mushroom mycelia (cordyceps sinensis), kale, kale sprout, maitake mushroom mycelia (grifola frondosa), nettle, parsley, pure beet juice, pure carrot juice, pure spirulina, reishi mushroom mycelia, shiitake mushroom mycelia (lentinula edodes), spinach, tomato juice, wild bilberry, wild blueberry, wild lingonberry, pure chlorella, organic rice maltodextrin, mineral fatty acid esters (ca, mg) from safflower, vegetable cellulose and purified water. Contains soy. |
| Nature's Plus Vit D3/Vit K2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol), vitamin K2 (as menatetrenone), microcrystalline cellulose, silica, magnesium stearate, vegetable cellulose and water. |
| Nested Naturals Vitamin K2 MK-7 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as MenaQ7), rice flour, vegetable cellulose (capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| Now Foods MK-7 Vitamin K-2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin C (from ascorbyl palmitate), vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7) (MK-7), rice flour, cellulose (capsule), cellulose powder, ascorbyl palmitate and silica. |
| Now Foods Vitamin K-2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone), alfalfa (medicago sativa), cellulose (capsule), rice flour, maltodextrin, ascorbyl plamitate and silica. |
| Nutricology Full Spectrum Vitamin K (Softgels) | Vitamin A (from cod liver oil), vitamin C (from ascorbyl palmitate), vitamin D3 (90% from cod liver oil and 10% from skipjack and tuna liver oil), vitamin K (from 1000 mcg vitamin K1 phytonadione, 3000 mcg vitamin K2 menaquionone-4 and 50 mcg vitamin K2 menaquinone-7), tocotrienols (as DeltaGold tocotrienols containing 90% delta tocotrienols and 10% gamma-tocotrienols), sunflower oil, gelatin, glycerin, water, yellow beeswax, carob extract, soy lecithin, zinc oxide. |
| Nutrigold Vitamin K2 MK-7 Gold (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7 from natto), organic sunflower lecithin, vegetarian capsule (plant cellulose, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), organic extra virgin olive oil. |
| Relentless Improvement K2 Menatetrenone (Veggie Capsules) | Menatetrenone (MK-4), magnesium stearate, vegetable capsule (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose). |
| Solgar Natural Vitamin K2 (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-7), dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, silica. Contains milk and soy. |
| Solgar Vitamin K (Tablets) | Vitamin K (as phytonadione), calcium (as dicalcium phosphate), dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearic acid, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Source Naturals Vitamin K (Tablets) | Vitamin K, calcium, dibasic calcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate. Contains wheat. |
| Source Naturals Vitamin K2 (Tablets) | Vitamin D-3 (as cholecalciferol), vitamin K (as menaquinone-7), calcium, bacillus subtilis natto extract, dibasic calcium phosphate, stearic acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, modified cellulose gum, and magnesium stearate. Contains milk and soy. |
| Superior Source Advanced Triple K (Tablets) | Vitamin K [as phytonadione (500 mcg), menaquinone-4 (500 mcg), and menaquinone-7 (50 mcg)], stevia leaf extract, calcium phosphate, carboxymethyl cellulose, maltodextrin, lactose (milk) and acacia gum. |
| Superior Source Vitamin K (Tablets) | Vitamin K (as phytonadione), lactose (milk), calcium phosphate and acacia gum. |
| Superior Source Vitamin K-1 (Tablets) | Vitamin K (as phytonadione), stevia leaf extract, lactose (milk), calcium phosphate and acacia gum. |
| Superior Source Vitamin K2 (Tablets) | Vitamin K (as menaquinone-4), stevia leaf extract, lactose (milk), carboxymethyl cellulose, maltodextrin and acacia gum. |
| Superior Source Vitamin K2 (Tablets) | Vitamin K (as menaquinone-7), stevia leaf extract, lactose (milk), carboxymethyl cellulose, maltodextrin and acacia gum. |
| Twinlab Bariatric Support D + K Dots Tangerine Flavor (Tablets) | Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol), vitamin K (as menaquinone) (from soy), natural tangerine flavor, microcrystalline cellulose, xylitol, mannitol, citric acid, silica, magnesium stearate. |
| Twinlab D3 Dots + K2 All-Natural Tangerine Flavor (Tablets) | Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol), vitamin K (as menaquinone), natural tangerine flavor, microcrystalline cellulose, xylitol, mannitol, cholecalciferol, menaquinone (from soy), citric acid, silica, magnesium stearate. |
Improving vitamin K absorption
~35g of fat: this study (thanks to Georgi of IdeaLabs) suggests to me that a high-fat meal with ~35g of fat will dramatically increase the amount of vitamin K absorbed. Based on that, I've started taking vitamin K less frequently, but doing so with a big ol' block of cheese. Because cheese is delicious.
Taurine: There's even less data for this than there is for fat consumption, but some of the information here makes me think it could be useful to take taurine at the same time as a vitamin K dose, particularly if it's something you're already supplementing like I do.