VITAMIN KQ®

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Dr. med. vet. Ray Biffin, AUS

Co-founder of Vitamin KQ®

"As a veterinary surgeon, I was always very interested in understanding the underlying causes behind the surgical problems I treated. Later, I transitioned from surgical practice to become a specialist in animal nutrition and horse feed development. There, I noticed that my old veterinary and stud management colleagues always shared the belief that 'horses with the best bone strength came from fresh green pastures.'

My biochemist colleague, Dr. Hubert Regtop, had begun investigating the role of natural Vitamin K (VK) in connection with bone health in humans and animals. We tested the grass from different pastures as well as the hay obtained from these pastures. The hay contained less than 10% VK compared to fresh pasture grass.

That was the beginning. We discovered that at the time a leaf dies, the VK contained within it is destroyed and degraded by light. We also found that VK is poorly absorbed in green leafy vegetables (for example, only 4%).

As a result, we developed and patented a VK product that is easily absorbed and protected from light. This was Vitamin KQ®, the active ingredient in BoneKare®.

Now, BoneKare® is used in all leading studs, and it has become the standard supportive treatment in orthopedics."

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Understanding Vitamin KQ®

 

Vitamin KQ® is a water-soluble, bioavailable, and UV-stable form of Vitamin K1, essential for activating Vitamin K-dependent proteins. In humans, Vitamin K1 can be partially converted into Vitamin K2 (MK4) within certain tissues, enhancing its role in bone and cardiovascular health. However, in horses, research shows that this conversion does not occur naturally in plasma. Instead, horses rely almost exclusively on Vitamin K1 to activate key proteins for bone strength and vascular health. By delivering an optimized, highly absorbable form of Vitamin K1, Vitamin KQ® ensures that both humans and horses can fully activate otherwise dormant proteins, supporting optimal skeletal and connective tissue function.

 

The Benefits of Vitamin KQ®

Advanced Bone Health:

  • Calcium Regulation: Vitamin KQ® plays a crucial role in calcium metabolism, ensuring that calcium is properly utilized and directed to your bones where it strengthens and maintains bone density.
  • Osteocalcin Activation: It activates osteocalcin, a protein that binds calcium to bones, improving bone mineralization and strength. 

Cardiovascular Health:

  • Arterial Health: Vitamin KQ® helps prevent the calcification of arteries, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and promoting cardiovascular health.
  • Blood Vessel Elasticity: It supports the maintenance of flexible blood vessels, aiding in better blood flow and reducing the risk of hypertension.

Enhanced Synergy with Vitamin D3:

  • Optimal Absorption: When combined with Vitamin D3, as in our BoneKare® products, Vitamin KQ® enhances the absorption and effectiveness of Vitamin D3, providing comprehensive support for bone and cardiovascular health.
  • Balanced Calcium Levels: The synergy between Vitamin KQ® and Vitamin D3 ensures that calcium is effectively absorbed and directed to the right places in your body, minimizing the risk of calcification in soft tissues.