Can you take K2 with statins? Study suggests statins may reduce vitamin k2

Statins act as mitochondrial toxins

Few consumers read professional journals such as Expert Review Clinical Pharmacology, but with one in four Americans over 45 taking cholesterol-lowering statins, a paper published should prompt people who use statins—as well as healthcare professionals and product developers focused on cardiovascular health—to ask a practical question early: can you take K2 with statins? In general, yes: Vitamin K2 can be taken with statins and may even be beneficial, but the right choice depends on medication use and clinician guidance.

The paper [1] states that statins may act as “mitochondrial toxins” and that, beyond helping the body make less cholesterol, statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway involved in cholesterol synthesis, CoQ10 production, and vitamin K2 formation. With long-term or high-intensity statin therapy, this could theoretically lower the body’s natural production of Vitamin K2. CoQ10 depletion may also contribute to muscle weakness and fatigue, adding to concerns about adverse effects that go beyond lipid-lowering. In that context, this discussion is not just about supplement stacking—it is about whether statin use may reduce vitamin K activity in ways that affect vascular calcification and broader cardiovascular care.

Vitamin K plays a critical role in blood coagulation and in the activation of matrix Gla protein (MGP), which inhibits soft tissue and cardiovascular calcification. MGP is present in bone, blood vessel, lung, heart, and kidney soft tissues. MGP binds calcium and protects blood vessels from calcification, but only when in its active form, which requires adequate intakes of Vitamin K2. Unfortunately, statin drugs may inhibit Vitamin K2 synthesis in the body, thereby accelerating coronary artery calcification, an important marker of the progress of atherosclerosis, according to researchers.

“This new paper speaks directly to statins interrupting the mechanism of action by which Vitamin K2 inhibits calcification,” said Hogne Vik, ex-NattoPharma chief medical officer and current member of the Gnosis by Lesaffre Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee. “Conversely, research clearly demonstrates that increasing dietary Vitamin K2, specifically Vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7, can improve Vitamin K2 levels in the blood and tissues, thus promoting cardiovascular health.”

K2 supplementation is generally safe for most people, but those taking statins or other medications should still ask a clinician about interactions, especially because Vitamin K2 can interfere with blood thinning drugs such as warfarin, which requires consistent Vitamin K intake and medical monitoring. Low vitamin D levels are also linked to statin-associated muscle symptoms, and Vitamin D3 may support muscle comfort and muscle function in statin users, while maintaining optimal vitamin D levels may improve statin tolerance; studies suggest statins may increase circulating Vitamin D levels in some individuals. Still, more research is needed to define the full clinical impact of this mechanism in statin users.

Why addressing artery and vascular calcification matters

Supporting Vik’s statement, the study, “Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Improves Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Postmenopausal Women,” published in the journal Thrombosis and Haemostasis[2], demonstrated the positive impact of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7) on cardiovascular health through its improvement of arterial flexibility, and suggests Vitamins D and K2 may be beneficial together for heart health and bone health. As an interventional study with a Vitamin K2 dietary supplement, MenaQ7, it is notable because randomized controlled trials are the gold standard, and recent research links improved arterial flexibility with reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

This study is significant because it confirms what previous population-based studies have shown, including a positive association between Vitamin K2 intake and healthier lipid profile findings, while also suggesting that consumption from fermented foods or supplements may help protect against progression of arterial calcification. A balanced diet that also includes green leafy vegetables and other leafy greens can contribute as Vitamin K sources. Dietary intake can also include Mediterranean-style foods such as oily fish, which support vascular health.

Vitamin K2 also supports activating vitamin K-dependent proteins that help move calcium away from soft tissues and vessel walls so it can be directed to the bones, where it is needed, which may help support bone density. Poor vitamin k status, or even vitamin k deficiency, may increase calcification risk.

Researchers at the R&D Group VitaK of Maastricht University in the Netherlands monitored 244 healthy post-menopausal women for three years using pulse wave velocity and ultrasound techniques. The participants, aged 55-65 years, were randomly assigned to take 180 mcg of MenaQ7 daily for three years, or placebo capsules. Family history and a blood test-based lipid profile—including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, LDL C, and other lipid levels—are commonly used to assess cardiovascular risk, especially in people at high risk. Results confirmed that MenaQ7 K2 not only inhibited age-related stiffening of the artery walls, but also made an unprecedented statistically significant improvement of vascular elasticity. Better arterial flexibility may also support blood pressure control and lower risk of high blood pressure in cardiovascular disease. (Note: higher doses than 180 mcg should only be used under professional guidance and certain medications may affect supplement decisions.)

References:

1. Okuyama H, Lagsjoen PH, Hamazaki T, Ogushi Y, Hama R, Kobayashi T, Ochino H. Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanism. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):189-99.
2. Knapen MH et al, Braam LAJL, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks APG, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women: double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2015 113 5: 1135-1144.