Methods and compositions for preventing or treating tissue calcification

A method of preventing, slowing the progression of, arresting, and/or reversing tissue calcification in a human subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the human subject at least 10 mg of substantially pure menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and/or menaquinol-7 (MKH2-7) per day thereby to prevent, slow the progression of, arrest and/or reverse tissue calcification in the subject, whereupon the administration of the MK-7 and/or the MKH2-7 increases a plasma level of Fetuin A relative to the plasma level of Fetuin A prior to administration, and at least one of the following:

• (i) increases the subject's serum T50 value relative to the subject's serum T50 value prior to administration of the MK-7 and/or MKH2-7,
• (ii) increases a ratio of a carboxylated to a non-carboxylated form of a Vitamin K-dependent protein in the subject's plasma relative to the ratio prior to administration of the MK-7 and/or MKH2-7,
• (iii) increases the plasma level of osteoprotegerin relative to the plasma concentration of osteoprotegerin prior to administration of the MK-7 and/or MKH2-7, or
• (iv) decreases the plasma level of D-Dimer or Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) relative to the plasma concentration of D-Dimer or Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) prior to administration of the MK-7 and/or MKH2-7.