High-Vitamin Butter Oil and Vitamin K2: Understanding the...

In the 1930s, a dentist named Weston A. Price described a mysterious nutrient he called "Activator X". He found it in butter from cows grazing on fast-growing green grass and believed it worked alongside vitamins A and D. Decades later, many researchers concluded that his "X-Factor" was most likely vitamin K2. Today, Green Pasture produces X-Factor Gold High Vitamin Butter Oil, available at Live Pine as capsules and an 8.1 fl oz unflavoured oil. Here is the story.

Who Was Weston A. Price?

Weston Price (1870 to 1948) was an American dentist who travelled to remote communities in Switzerland, the Outer Hebrides, Alaska, the Pacific Islands, Africa and South America. He compared people eating traditional diets with those who had adopted refined flour and sugar, and documented his observations in the 1939 book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. He noted that traditional diets were rich in fat-soluble vitamins from foods such as butter, fish, organ meats and eggs.

His work was influential, though by modern standards it was observational rather than controlled research. It remains a source of inspiration for people interested in traditional foods.

Fresh vegetable salad close-up. Photo: Unsplash

What Is Vitamin K2?

Vitamin K is a family of fat-soluble vitamins. The two main forms are:

Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone): found mainly in leafy green vegetables. Its best-known role is in blood clotting.
Vitamin K2 (menaquinones): found in animal foods and fermented foods. Its main subtypes are MK-4, found in animal fats such as butter, egg yolks and liver, and longer forms such as MK-7, produced by bacteria and especially abundant in natto, a fermented Japanese soybean dish.

Grazing animals convert K1 from grass into K2 (MK-4) in their tissues, which is why butter from cows eating fresh green grass contains more of it.

What Does Vitamin K2 Do?

Vitamin K2 activates proteins that help direct calcium in the body:

Osteocalcin: a protein that helps bind calcium into bone.
Matrix Gla protein (MGP): a protein that helps inhibit calcium from depositing in soft tissues such as blood vessels.

This is why researchers study vitamin K2 alongside vitamin D, which increases calcium absorption. The Rotterdam Study, a large Dutch population study published in 2004, found that higher dietary intake of vitamin K2 was associated with lower risk of arterial calcification and heart disease. Observational studies like this show associations, not proof of cause and effect, and research on K2 supplementation is ongoing.

What Is High-Vitamin Butter Oil?

High-vitamin butter oil is made by separating the oil fraction from butter produced by cows grazing on rapidly growing green pasture. Green Pasture describes its X-Factor Gold as a concentrated butter oil from grass-fed cows. Butter oil naturally contains fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin K2 (MK-4) and small amounts of vitamin D and E, with levels varying by season and pasture.

The Classic Pairing: Butter Oil and Fermented Cod Liver Oil

Price recommended combining high-vitamin butter oil with cod liver oil, believing they worked better together. Green Pasture offers this combination as the Butter Oil / Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend (120 capsules). The idea fits with modern understanding that vitamins A, D and K2 interact in calcium metabolism, though the exact optimal ratios are not established.

Food Sources of Vitamin K2

Natto (by far the richest source of MK-7)
Hard and soft cheeses, especially aged varieties such as Gouda and Brie
Egg yolks, particularly from pasture-raised hens
Butter and ghee from grass-fed cows
Chicken and goose liver
Some fermented foods such as sauerkraut, in smaller amounts

How to Use Butter Oil

Capsules: take with a meal, following the label serving size.
Liquid oil: drizzle over warm vegetables or add a small amount to food after cooking; avoid high heat.
Pairing: enjoy with fat-containing meals to support absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Important Safety Notes

Blood thinners: anyone taking warfarin or similar vitamin K antagonist medication must not change their vitamin K intake without medical supervision, as it can affect how the medication works.
Dairy allergy: butter oil is a dairy product; those with milk allergy should avoid it.
Vitamin A totals: butter oil contains vitamin A; if you also take cod liver oil or other vitamin A supplements, check your total intake.
Pregnancy: consult your healthcare provider before taking fat-soluble vitamin supplements.

Why Grass-Fed Matters

The vitamin content of butter depends heavily on what cows eat. Cows grazing on lush, rapidly growing spring and autumn pasture produce butter that is deeper yellow, a sign of more beta-carotene, and it is generally richer in fat-soluble vitamins, including K2. Price specifically noted that butter from cows on fast-growing green grass had the highest levels of his "activator". Butter from cows fed mainly grain in barns tends to be paler and lower in these nutrients. That is why grass-fed sourcing is central to high-vitamin butter oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is K2 the same as K1?

No. They share a basic structure but differ in sources, how long they stay in the body and which tissues they reach.

Is ghee the same as butter oil?

Both are butter fat with the milk solids removed, but production methods and vitamin content can differ.

The Takeaway

The "X-Factor" story connects early nutrition exploration with modern research on vitamin K2 and calcium. High-vitamin butter oil from grass-fed cows is one traditional way to include fat-soluble vitamins in your diet, best used thoughtfully and with professional advice if you take medication.

Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Live Pine products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting a new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.