Vitamin K is recognized as a key factor in the synthesis of blood clotting factors, but its involvement in a broader range of biological mechanisms, including calcium homeostasis, bone and vascular mineralization, makes it an essential ingredient for healthy living. The beneficial effects of vitamin K, which are supported by clinical evidence, have led to increased consumer demand for vitamin K as a health-promoting ingredient to compensate for low vitamin K intake from nutrient-poor diets.
Naturally occurring vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins consisting of plant phylloquinone, known as vitamin K1, and a series of menaquinones (MK-4-MK-13), commonly referred to as vitamin K2, produced mainly by bacterial fermentation. Menadione or vitamin K3 is a water-soluble synthetic form of vitamin K that plays a role as an intermediate in the metabolic conversion of phylloquinone to MK-4. Vitamin K4 or menadiol sodium phosphate is a synthetic water-soluble form obtained by reduction from menadione.
The production of vitamin K2 (MK-7) by chemical synthesis or bacterial fermentation as an active ingredient requires sufficient analytical support to demonstrate the purity and quality of the raw material used in the formulations. Stability of active ingredients is another key factor for manufacturers during product development and manufacturing to deliver high quality products and prevent subsequent product recall due to quality deficiencies. In addition, the lack of adequate quality testing can lead to serious health consequences for consumers taking dietary supplements as a prevention or supportive treatment.
Good analytical support for accurate analysis of vitamin K2 (MK-7) is therefore essential for quantification of vitamin content in various complex formulations containing several interfering substances. The main problem in the analysis of vitamin K2 (MK-7) is its sensitivity to light and its low concentration in complex matrices, especially in the presence of other lipophilic compounds extracted during sample preparation. In addition, vitamin K2 (MK-7) is prone to degradation in the presence of reducing agents and alkaline solutions, which requires further monitoring of the active ingredient content during the proposed shelf life of the product for formulations containing certain ingredients. Therefore, optimization of sample preparation is an important part of good analytical practice to ensure accurate results that reflect the true content of the analyte in complex matrices.
Performing routine analysis of various forms of vitamin K (K1, K2: MK-7, MK-4, etc.) in a variety of sample forms such as raw material, capsules, tablets, oral drops, sprays and other food supplements by selective and validated HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS methods with optimized, product-specific sample preparation is our expertise.
INSLAB’s customized analytical and consulting services help you advance your product development process and gain competitive advantage by providing products with scientifically supported data, improved formulations and product stability.
For more information about dietary supplement analysis, contact us: info@inslab.si
