• About Us
  • Why MenaQ7®️
  • K2 Science
  • News & Events
    • News & Press
    • Event Calendar
  • Partners
  • #5613 (no title)
Menu
  • About Us
  • Why MenaQ7®️
  • K2 Science
  • News & Events
    • News & Press
    • Event Calendar
  • Partners
  • #5613 (no title)
Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Why MenaQ7®️
  • K2 Science
  • News & Events
    • News & Press
    • Event Calendar
  • Partners
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • Why MenaQ7®️
  • K2 Science
  • News & Events
    • News & Press
    • Event Calendar
  • Partners
  • Contact Us
Contact Us

Featured Story

NattoPharma & Maastricht Renew Research Partnership

Read More

Featured Story

MenaQ7 3-year Cardio Study Publishes

Read More

Featured Story

K Status Potential Risk Factor in COVID-19

Read More

Featured Story

NattoPharma Spearheads K2 RDI Program

Read More
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Earlier
2021

K2 Holds Promise for Alzheimer’s Disease

New US review paper highlights K2 specifically as a potential strategy for Alzheimer’s disease “prevention” while emphasizing the need for more clinical studies.
Science & studies
|
13 July 2021

Oslo, Norway and East Brunswick, NJ (13 July 2021) – Nutrients recently published a new review paper that examines the body of evidence connecting vitamin K2 to factors involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, concluding that this demonstrates K2 as having the potential to slow the progression of AD and contribute to its prevention.

In the review, “Vitamin K2 Holds Promise for Alzheimer’s Prevention and Treatment” [1], researchers from the Harvard Extension School and Pacific Northwest University considered the antiapoptotic and antioxidant effects of vitamin K2 and its impact on neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cognition, cardiovascular health, and comorbidities in AD. In their review, they also “examine the link between dysbiosis and vitamin K2 in the context of the microbiome’s role in AD pathogenesis,” they write. “Our review is the first to consider the physiological roles of vitamin K2 in the context of AD, and, given the recent shift in AD research toward nonpharmacological interventions, our findings emphasize the timeliness and need for clinical studies involving vitamin K2.”

The incidence of AD has risen considerably in recent years, and AD remains a leading cause of chronic disability and death. As the most common type of dementia, AD affects an estimated 6.2 million Americans, a number that is projected to more than double by 2050. Yet the National Institutes of Health notes that correcting certain dietary deficiencies can attribute to the prevention or delay dementia caused by AD, and that what we eat affects the aging brain’s ability to think and remember.[2]

“There is growing evidence for possible dietary risk factors in the development of AD and cognitive decline with age, such as antioxidants, omega-3s, dietary fats, and B vitamins. Moreover, research suggests that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop AD and other forms of dementia. We are gratified that Vitamin K2 is becoming a prominent part of this conversation, particularly as most of the world’s population expresses a K deficiency,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer. “A 2018 paper [3] connected aortic stiffness with an increased risk of dementia in older adults. By activating matrix Gla protein (MGP), vitamin K2 as MK-7 is the only compound to date shown to impact arterial calcification.”

“NattoPharma’s branded Vitamin K2, MenaQ7, is the only K2 on the market clinically proven to impact cardiovascular health through its activation of MGP, and the only K2 patented for cardiovascular health. But it has also been shown to be anti-inflammatory in human cells and act as an antioxidant, improving endothelial function [5],” Dr Vik continues. “There are 17 K-dependent proteins in the body, and we have a strong understanding of a few, which contribute to blood clotting, bone health, and cardiovascular health. These findings shine a light on the importance of continuing our research to articulate the health benefits of activating additional proteins, and the impact that can have on the global population.”

References:

1 Popescu A and German M. “Vitamin K2 Holds Promise for Alzheimer’s Prevention and Treatment.” Nutrients. 2021,13,2206.
2 https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-do-we-know-about-diet-and-prevention-alzheimers-disease
3 Cui C, Sekikawa A, Kuller LH, Lopez OL, Newman AB, Kuipers AL, Mackey RH. “Aortic stiffness is associated with increased risk of incident dementia in older adults.” J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2018;66(1):297-306.
4 Unpublished data
5 Bar A, Kus K, et al. Vitamin K2-MK-7 improves nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function in ApoE/LDLR mice. Vascul Pharmacol. 2019 Aug 14: 106581. Doi: 1016/j.vph.2019.106581.

About NattoPharma

As the Vitamin K2 world leader, NattoPharma’s ironclad science portfolio is the foundation for today’s understanding of K2 and is the basis for all industry claims about the benefits of K2. NattoPharma offers the ONLY K2 as MK-7 clinically validated to deliver health benefits. With more than 20 human clinical trials where MenaQ7 K2 was the actual source material, we have demonstrated the K2 mechanism, safe and effective dosages, and the importance of K2 for bone and cardiovascular health, all while simultaneously verifying our brand’s efficacy.

NattoPharma also provides the MOST comprehensive K2 portfolio – both natural fermented and nature-identical synthesis in various dilutions and solubilities – offering solutions for brand owners to make Vitamin K2 available in a broader range of finished product dose forms. The MenaQ7® Solution Platform opens opportunities to formulate with multiple active ingredients, guided by the experts of the NattoPharma R&D team.

For more information:
Kate Quackenbush, Communications Director
Kate.quackenbush@nattopharma.com; (+1) 609-454-2992 x 220

Read More
Show less

New MenaQ7 K2 Cardio Study Registered

Greek study will use the highest dosage of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 so far, further proof of MenaQ7® K2 safety.
Science & studies
|
08 June 2021

Oslo, Norway and East Brunswick, NJ (8 June 2021) – NattoPharma is excited to announce that a new 1.5-year clinical trial using MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The trial will examine the cardiovascular impact in a patient population and will use the highest dosage of K2 as MK-7 to date: 1mg daily.

The new multi-centre, placebo-controlled, randomized, open-label intervention clinical trial, “The Effect of Vitamin K2 Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness and Cardiovascular Events in PEritonial DIAlysis (VIKIPEDIA)”, will be conducted with Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients. The investigators at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece will study the effect of K2 supplementation (through normalization of dp-ucMGP) on arterial stiffness and the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a state of progressive vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease. End Stage Kidney Disease patients receive renal replacement therapy either by hemodialysis or by PD, according to lead researcher Stefanos Roumeliotis , MD, PhD. “Several studies have shown that hemodialysis patients have vitamin K depletion and accelerated vascular calcification ,and this finding led to the initiation of several randomized controlled trials exploring the effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients.

“VIKIPEDIA is the first study to assess whether high dosage of Menaquinone-7 could improve arterial stiffness, mortality, cardiovascular disease, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and dialysis efficacy in patients with PD,” he explains. “MenaQ7® was chosen to be used in the study because the compound showed its efficacy to improve vitamin K status in many clinical trials with kidney patients.”

At baseline, all eligible patients who have provided a written, informed consent will be enrolled in the study. Αortic stiffness and vitamin K status will be assessed by PWV and plasma dp-ucMGP levels respectively. Before randomization, the investigators will draw blood (serum and plasma) and PD fluid samples from all patients to measure blood count and routine biochemical parameters, including urea, creatinine, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, c-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, parathormone, 25-OH D3, magnesium, glycated hemoglobin, thyroid function hormones. Since both vitamin D and magnesium are considered of utmost importance in vitamin K metabolism, after baseline, patients with vitamin D and/or magnesium depletion will be treated with oral supplements to achieve normal levels of both elements, before randomization. The cohort will then be categorized to one of the two groups (placebo or active group) and the treatment period will last 1.5 years. To ensure that the two parallel groups will include patients that will not differ significantly in vitamin K and stiffness, patients will be accordingly stratified. After randomization, all patients will continue their routine, standard medical treatment and patients in the treatment group will additionally receive daily, per 1 mg of vitamin K2 (MenaQ7®, Nattopharma, ASA, Hovik, Norway).

It is important to note, according to Dr. Hogne Vik, Chief Medical Officer with NattoPharma, that researchers recognized the importance of optimal level of vitamin D and magnesium to support function of vitamin K2. That is why patients deficient with vitamin D or magnesium will be treated with theses nutrients to reach normal levels before randomization.

“People with kidney problems exhibits low vitamin K status, which has been shown to increase cardiovascular disease as well as mortality risk,” explains Dr. Vik. “Vitamin K2 supplementation was shown to be effective to improve vitamin K status in kidney patients to some extent. However, none of these trials have been conducted in PD patients, but only in pre-dialysis CKD or haemodialysis subjects or kidney transplant patients.

“VIKIPEDIA represents two important firsts: it will be the first trial in PD patients, and the first time this high dosage of vitamin K2 as MK-7 will be used, which supports high safety profile of this nutrient,” adds Dr. Vik. “We are thrilled because this study will add to the already substantial evidence that MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 is an important cardiovascular-support nutrient, and it presents great hope for an at-risk patient population.”

The study is scheduled to start in September 2021. The researchers will collaborate with long-time NattoPharma research partner Masstricht University to evaluate vitamin K status.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04900610?term=peritoneal&cond=vitamin+k&draw=2&rank=1

About NattoPharma

As the Vitamin K2 world leader, NattoPharma’s ironclad science portfolio is the foundation for today’s understanding of K2 and is the basis for all industry claims about the benefits of K2.

Two things separate NattoPharma from other Vitamin K2 suppliers. First, we offer the ONLY K2 as MK-7 clinically validated to deliver health benefits. With more than 20 human clinical trials where MenaQ7 K2 was the actual source material, we have demonstrated the K2 mechanism, safe and effective dosages, and the importance of K2 for bone and cardiovascular health, all while simultaneously verifying our brand’s efficacy.

Second, NattoPharma provides the MOST comprehensive K2 portfolio – both natural fermented and nature-identical synthesis in various dilutions and solubilities – offering solutions for brand owners to make Vitamin K2 available in a broader range of finished product dose forms. The MenaQ7® Solution Platform opens opportunities to formulate with multiple active ingredients, guided by the experts of the NattoPharma R&D team.

A NattoPharma partnership does not end once kilos are delivered. We are invested in your success and positioned to ensure you achieve it.

For more information:
Kate Quackenbush, Communications Director
Kate.quackenbush@nattopharma.com; (+1) 609-454-2992 x 220

Read More
Show less

Statin Use & Vascular Calcification: New Paper

NattoPharma highlights new evidence connecting statin use to increased cardiovascular risk, illustrating the impact of Vitamin K2 supplementation for statin users.
Science & studies
|
04 March 2021

A new cross-sectional clinical study published in Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences[1] adds to the evidence that statins, a heavily prescribed cholesterol medication, may enhance calcium accumulation in the arterial wall by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent proteins involved in vascular protection.

Statins are first‐line drugs in the prevention and treatment of established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Paradoxically, intensive statin therapy has been shown to increase vascular calcification and accelerate its progression. The aim of the recently published study, “Statins, vascular calcification, and vitamin K-dependent proteins: Is there a relation?”, was to find a putative relation between statin use, coronary calcification, and the vitamin K-dependent proteins as a possible mechanism mediating statins’ pro-calcification.

“According to the study, statins negatively influence vitamin K status. To that end, supplementation with Vitamin K2, which has been shown to effectively improve vitamin K status and activate extrahepatic K-dependent proteins, might prove beneficial for statin users,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leaders in Vitamin K2 research and development.

The study enrolled 98 patients – patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a control group of healthy patients at moderate risk for CVD – and split the groups into statin users and non‐users. The results revealed that both CVD and statin use are independently and significantly associated with vascular calcification. Among all the study participants, coronary artery calcification score (CACS) was more pronounced in statin users than non‐users; researchers found the same among the CVD patients and the controls. Moreover, the researchers found that statins influenced vitamin K status represented by the activation of osteocalcin (OC), a vitamin K-dependent protein. Inactive OC and the ratio of inactive and active form of OC (UCR) were significantly elevated in statin users, indicating vitamin K deficiency. According to researchers, statins also impacted the international normalized ratio and interacted with vitamin K antagonists.

These results are in agreement with the existing evidence about the positive association between statins and vascular calcification. A 2015 paper published in Expert Review Clinical Pharmacology[2] stated that statins may act as “mitochondrial toxins” with adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels not only via the depletion of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), but also by inhibiting “the synthesis of vitamin K2, the cofactor for matrix Gla-protein activation, which in turn protects arteries from calcification.”

“NattoPharma has driven research confirming that Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7) is the only known inhibitor of vascular calcification through the activation of matrix gla protein (MGP).[3,4] Yet this new study provides further evidence that statins interrupt the mechanism of action by which vitamin K2 is a cardio-protective nutrient,” Dr. Vik adds. “And while CoQ10 and vitamin K2 are both affected by statins, no recommendation exists for prescribing supplemental vitamin K2 to statin patients.

“NattoPharma continues to work with the medical community on trials exploring Vitamin K2 as a potential therapy for patients that express heavy calcification,” Dr. Vik concludes. “We hope to encourage K2 supplementation as a recommendation in the future for statin users; especially considering this new evidence.”

References:
1 Zhelyazkova-Savova MD, Yotov YT, Nikolova MN, Nazifova-Tasinova NF, Vankova DG, Atanasov AA, Galunska BT. “Statins, vascular calcification, and vitamin K-dependent proteins: Is there a relation?” Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2021 Feb 26. Online ahead of print.
2 Okuyama H, Langsjoen PH, Hamazaki T, Ogushi Y, Hama R, Kobayashi T, Uchino H. “Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms.” Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):189-99.
3 Knapen MHJ, Braam LAJLM, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks APG, Vermeer C. “Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomized clinical trial.” Thromb Haemost. 2015 May; 113(5):1135-44.
4 Vermeer C and Vik H. Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: results from a one-year study. 2020 Vascul Dis Ther, 5.

Read More
Show less

Lesaffre Intent to Acquire NattoPharma

The Board of Directors of NattoPharma recommends a voluntary cash offer by Lesaffre to acquire all shares in NattoPharma.
Company Initiatives
|
15 February 2021

Reference is made to the press release dated 2 June 2020 regarding the strategic review of NattoPharma ASA (“NattoPharma” or the “Company“) and the engagement of ABG Sundal Collier ASA to investigate various alternatives to maximize shareholder values.

Compagnie des Levures Lesaffre (“Lesaffre” or the “Offeror”) and NattoPharma hereby announce that Lesaffre will launch an offer to acquire all outstanding shares of NattoPharma through a voluntary cash offer of NOK 30 per share (the “Offer”). The Board of Directors of NattoPharma has unanimously decided to recommend the shareholders of the Company to accept the Offer. Lesaffre is a player in the fermentation industry, leveraging innovation and industrial platforms to produce fermentation products that are used in a diverse and growing set of applications including Baking, but also Food Taste and Pleasure, Health Care (Human, Animal and Plant) and Industrial Biotechnology.

The offer price of NOK 30 per share represents a 41%, 56% and 61% premium to the volume-weighted average closing price over respectively 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Further, the offer price represents a 100% premium to the closing price on 2 June 2020, being the date when the Board of Directors of NattoPharma initiated the strategic review. The Offer represents a 22% premium to the latest closing price on 12 February 2021 and values the total equity of NattoPharma at NOK 631m on a fully diluted basis.

NattoPharma is a public limited liability company listed on Euronext Expand Oslo and is headquartered in Oslo. NattoPharma is the world’s leader in vitamin K2 research and development, and is the owner and exclusive distributer of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, the best documented, vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7) with guaranteed actives and stability, clinical substantiation, and international patents granted and pending, and now the new MenaQ7® Full Spectrum, which delivers menaquinones 6, 7, 8, and 9. The company has a multi-year research and development program to substantiate and discover the health benefits of vitamin K2 for applications in the marketplace for functional food and dietary supplements.

“We are impressed with Lesaffre´s track record and global reach and we are confident that partnering up with their team will enable us to reach the next level. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and we will continue developing and delivering world class products to our joint customer base.” said Kjetil Ramsøy, CEO of NattoPharma.
“Lesaffre is already an established supplier of vitamin K2, and as such we are very appreciative of the successful business the NattoPharma team has built over the years. We believe that joining forces would help further expand the awareness about and access to the benefits of vitamin K2 to support the health capital of consumers. We thank the Board of Directors of NattoPharma for their unanimous support to our friendly approach and we truly believe that our Offer delivers an attractive value for all the shareholders of NattoPharma” said Antoine Baule, CEO of Lesaffre.

“Over the last years, NattoPharma has built a solid platform for its future growth and development. Throughout the strategic review process initiated in June 2020 the Board of Directors of NattoPharma has focused on maximizing shareholder values. We have reached an agreement with Lesaffre, that in the opinion of the Board of Directors reflects the potential in NattoPharma for the years ahead. Moreover, the industrial rationale for a combination of the two companies is substantial and we regard Lesaffre as an optimal acquirer of the company. We are of the opinion that the Offer recognizes the financial and strategic value of NattoPharma and delivers an attractive premium to the shareholders.”, said Frode Marc Bohan, Chairman of the Board of NattoPharma.

The Board of Directors of NattoPharma supports the Offer and unanimously recommends the shareholders of NattoPharma to accept the Offer. The Offeror has received pre-commitments for in total 11,373,737 shares, including from all shareholders represented at the Board of Directors as well as the top management of the Company, representing 54.07% of the total share capital of NattoPharma, on a fully diluted basis excluding treasury shares, subject to certain customary conditions. Such commitments include irrevocable pre-acceptances from the primary insiders of NattoPharma, representing a total of 39.97% of the share capital of NattoPharma, on a fully diluted basis excluding treasury shares.

About the Offer:

• The offer price of NOK 30 will be settled in cash.
• The Offeror is due to launch the Offer in February 2021 pursuant to an offer document to be approved by the Oslo Stock Exchange (the “Offer Document“).
• The completion of the Offer will be subject to satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including, but not limited to, that the Offeror obtains (i) a minimum acceptance level of 90% of the issued and outstanding share capital of NattoPharma and (ii) relevant regulatory approvals.

The Offer will not contain any conditions as to financing or due diligence.

The complete details of the Offer, including all terms and conditions, will be included in the Offer Document to be sent to the Company’s shareholders following review and approval by the Oslo Stock Exchange pursuant to Chapter 6 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The offer period is expected to commence in the first half of March and continue for a period of 2 weeks, subject to any extensions. The Offeror must publicly announce that the conditions for completion of the Offer have been satisfied or waived at the latest at 16:30 CET on 31 May 2021, unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Offeror. Shareholders are urged to read the Offer Document when it becomes available as it will contain important information, including the unanimous recommendation from the Board of Directors of NattoPharma.

As part of the transaction agreement with the Offeror (the “Transaction Agreement“), the Board of Directors of NattoPharma has subject to customary conditions undertaken to only amend, qualify or withdraw its recommendation of the Offer if a competing offer is made, and the Board of Directors of the Company, acting in good faith and taking into account all aspects of such offer, considers it to be more favourable to the shareholders of NattoPharma, and the Offeror has not matched the superior offer within five business days. Withdrawal, amendment or qualification of the recommendation from the Board of Directors of NattoPharma as well as a material breach of the Transaction Agreement will trigger an obligation for the Company to pay an amount equal to up to NOK 25 million in documented costs associated with the process and the Offer.

The pre-commitments of the primary insiders entered into prior to the Offer will remain binding and cannot be terminated unless (i) the Offer Period is not commenced on or prior to 15 March 2021, or (ii) the Offeror has not, on or prior to 16:30 CET on 31 May 2021, publicly announced that the conditions for closing of the Offer have been satisfied or waived by the Offeror, unless the Company and the Offeror has agreed to extend such date to a later date (in which event such later date will apply).

The pre-commitments of the other shareholders entered into prior to the Offer will remain binding subject to the same conditions as set out above, but may in addition be terminated if a competing offer is made, and the Board of the Company, acting in good faith and taking into account all aspects of such offer, considers it to be more favourable to the shareholders of the Company, and the Offeror does not match such superior offer within five business days of having been notified of the competing offer and such competing offer is thereafter recommended by the Board.

Further, subject to the same terms as the pre-commitments of the primary insiders, the holders of options issued by the Company to primary insiders and other employees, in total 1,200,850 share options, have agreed to exercise their options and to sell the shares issued pursuant to the options to the Offeror subject to that the Offeror announces that the closing conditions have been fulfilled or waived by the Offeror.

This notification does not in itself constitute an offer. The Offer will only be made on the basis of the Offer Document and can only be accepted pursuant to the terms of the Offer Document. The Offer will not be made in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

The Offeror intends to make a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares in NattoPharma upon acquiring more than 90% of the shares in NattoPharma under the Offer. Further, subject to the outcome of the Offer, the Offeror intends to propose to the general meeting of NattoPharma that an application is filed with the Oslo Stock Exchange to de-list shares of NattoPharma from Euronext Expand Oslo.

NattoPharma will engage an independent third party to provide the formal statement about the Offer to be issued in accordance with section 6-16 (1) cf. 6-19 (1) of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Rothschild is acting as financial adviser to Lesaffre and the Offeror and Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge, is acting as receiving agent. Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is acting as the Norwegian legal adviser, and Linklaters is acting as the French legal adviser, to Lesaffre and the Offeror in connection with the Offer.

ABG Sundal Collier ASA is acting as financial adviser and Advokatfirmaet CLP DA is acting as Norwegian legal adviser to NattoPharma.

For further information, please contact:

NattoPharma:
NattoPharma ASA
Att: Kjetil Ramsøy
Telephone: +47 906 12 943
Email: kjetil.ramsoy@nattopharma.com
Lesaffre:
Agence Wellcom
Att: Valérie Lassale/Chloe Bencivengo
Telephone: +33(0)1 46 34 60 60
Email: lesaffre@wellcom.fr

Read More
Show less

New US Office / Warehouse

The new NattoPharma USA, Inc. office and warehouse is up and running in East Brunswick, NJ.
Company Initiatives
|
05 February 2021

After experiencing the highest recorded revenue in NattoPharma ASA’s history, the North American Subsidiary seamlessly shifted to a higher-capacity facility to better accommodate quicker turnaround times for customers and increased on-site personnel.

Read More
Show less
2020

Maastricht Research Partnership Renewal

Renewed five-year commitment kicks-off with research project that aims to verify severe vitamin K deficiency in COVID-19 patients and to demonstrate that K2 may provide a novel solution for optimizing vascular health.
Company Initiatives
|
01 December 2020

In 2006, NattoPharma began a research partnership with the University of Maastricht, the Netherlands, the distinguished group that continues to lead the exploration of K2 discovery and its role in improving human health. This has resulted in many successes, such as partnership in the Horizon 2020 EU ITN grants EVOlUTION and INTRICARE and commercial success for NattoPharma products improving human health.

This renewed five-year commitment will kick-off with a research project that aims to demonstrate that vitamin K2 provides a novel solution for restoring vascular health in patients and optimizing vascular function in a healthy population.

“Our work with Maastricht has helped us not only create the Vitamin K2 category but also to keep NattoPharma on the front line of research and development. The discoveries from research continue to confirm that an adequate level of K2 guides calcium to where you need it – in your bones and teeth, and away from your arteries and blood vessels where calcification makes them stiff,” says NattoPharma CEO Kjetil Ramsøy.

“The work conducted in collaboration with NattoPharma will provide further research into the role of vitamin K2 concerning calcium metabolism, impacting various aspects of our health,” says Prof. Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice-Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University. “There is great potential in learning how these mechanisms impact cardiovascular health, but also the implications for other systems, such as bone, cartilage, brain, and pulmonary health.”

A recent significant discovery linked a better vitamin K-status in COVID-19 patients to better outcomes. NattoPharma is excited to support this new research project that will further explore these findings, examining the severity of vitamin K deficiency in COVID-19 patients and investigating the role of vitamin K2 for vascular health protection in the post-COVID-19 world.

“The first study represented an amazing finding, linking poor vitamin K status on COVID patients with poor prognosis,” explains Prof. Schurgers, co-author of the study. “While we do not suggest vitamin K2 is a treatment for COVID-19, we expect this next stage of research may confirm that vitamin K2 could provide a novel solution for optimizing vascular health. Vascular health is important as this system needs to supply and support other organs, thereby improving outcomes for patients with comorbidities.”

NattoPharma’s market-leading branded ingredient, MenaQ7®, has been the source material for all clinical trials studying vitamin K2 since 2006 when collaboration with Maastricht University began.

“We are grateful for our long and productive relationship with Maastricht and excited for future discoveries so we can continue translating it into products that serve the estimated 97% of the population eating a modern diet that is deficient of this critical vitamin,” says Ramsøy.

Read More
Show less

K2 Deficiency & COVID Mortality Explained: New Paper

New study dovetails earlier research showing improved COVID-19 recovery outcomes in individuals with higher K2 status.
Science & studies
|
01 October 2020

A newly published paper[1] in Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology from New Zealand researchers elucidates the association between K2 and recovery rates in individuals with COVID-19.

According to the authors, a “profound increase” in inactive matrix Gla protein (MGP) levels were observed in COVID-19 patients, indicating a poor K2 status and associated increased risk of mortality from comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases).

MGP is dependent upon vitamin K2 menquinone-7 (MK-7) to become active, and the more circulating MGP that is active, the more calcification in arteries is inhibited. Vascular calcification is a process known to commence in elastin fibers, and elastin is a substantial player in ensuring tissues remain pliable and resilient. Elastic fibers are heavily present in lung tissue, where MGP, when activated, is considerably expressed – indicating the importance of MK-7 in supporting lung (pulmonary) function.

The researchers write: “Therefore, MK-7 deficiency can be a risk factor for increasing the severity of the COVID-19 disease, and SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with comorbid conditions tend to develop acute manifestations.”

This paper strengthens the concept that Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is a nutrient with substantial ability to protect pulmonary function during an active virus. It supports an earlier study published in April[2] that evaluated MK-7 in 123 patients with COVID-19 and 184 controls, revealing a link between vitamin K2 deficiency and disease severity.

“Evidence continues to mount that MK-7’s mechanism of action has a considerable impact on protecting human health,” said NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik. “Of course, a dietary supplement is not a cure or a treatment, but over time, MK-7 can fortify the body’s resilience to age-related conditions and viral infection. This is the second study that associates K2 status with outcomes in COVID-19 patients. More research in this area is warranted and necessary.”

NattoPharma ASA and its US subsidiary NattoPharma USA, Inc. continue to lead the research endeavors into MK-7 (as MenaQ7®) as well as global MenaQ7® product development.

References:
1 Berenjian A, Sarabadani Z, “How menaquinone-7 deficiency influences mortality and morbidity among COVID-19 patients” Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 29 (2020) 101792
2 Dofferhoff, A.S.; Piscaer, I.; Schurgers, L.J.; Walk, J.; van den Ouweland, J.M.; Hackeng, T.M.; Lux, P.; Maassen, C.; Karssemeijer, E.G.; Wouters, E.F.; Janssen, R. Reduced Vitamin K Status as A Potentially Modifiable Prognostic Risk Factor in COVID-19. Preprints 2020, 2020040457 (doi: 10.20944/preprints202004.0457.v1).

Read More
Show less

K Status Marker Linked to Cardio Risk: New Study

Vitamin K2’s role in vascular calcification demonstrated in New Danish population study.
Science & studies
|
12 August 2020

Clinical Biochemistry recently published a Danish population study that examined the link between inactive matrix Gla protein (MGP), a known biomarker for K-vitamins status, and cardiovascular risk, and concluded that high levels of this inactive protein were positively associated with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to the role vitamin K2 plays in vascular calcification.

According to “Undercarboxylated matrix Gla-protein: A biomarker of vitamin K2 status and cardiovascular risk”[1], dephosphorylated uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP) is a biomarker of functional vitamin K status. High plasma dp-ucMGP concentrations reflect a low vitamin K status and have been related to vascular calcification. The purpose of the study was to assess plasma levels of dp-ucMGP and the association between plasma dp-ucMGP, CVD-risk factors, and history of CVD in a general population.

Plasma dp-ucMGP measurements were performed using the IDS-iSYS InaKtif MGP assay in 491 consecutive participants in a Danish general population study (229 males and 262 females, aged 19–71 years). The researachers concluded: ”Increased plasma dp-ucMGP levels were positively associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial stiffness (as reflected by increased ePWV), hypertension, obesity, and history of CVD events. These findings support that dp-ucMGP is a biomarker of cardiovascular risk and lend support to the hypothesis that vitamin K status plays a role in vascular calcification and risk of CVD… Prospective studies could establish the causal direction of these associations and whether increased vitamin K intake represents a preventive measure against vascular calcification and CVD-risk.

NattoPharma is encouraged by these findings as they provide another level of evidence that vitamin K2 is an essential cardio-protective nutrient, specifically as the researchers note: “Different studies have found an association between dietary vitamin K intake and CVDs. Particularly menaquinone (K2) is associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality.”

”It still remains a common misunderstanding that vitamin K, in general, impacts arterial calcificiation, when in fact it is Vitamin K2 that is available beyond the liver to support bone and cardiovascular health,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer. ”Our studies with MenaQ7 have shown that K status was more efficiently improved in adults as well as children with supplementation of Vitamin K2 as MK-7.[2] Both of NattoPharma’s cardiovascular intervention trials showed improved vascular health with just 180mcg – our 3-year study[3] cardiovascular study in healthy postmenopausal women showed improved arterial flexibility, and now our 1-year study[4] in men and women showed a significant decrease in dp-ucMGP.”

References:
1 T. Jespersen, et al. Clinical Biochemistry https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2020.05.005
2 Theuwissen E, Magdeleyns EJ, Braam LAJLM, et al. Vitamin K status in healthy volunteers. Food Funct. 2014 Feb;5(2):229-34.
3 Knapen MHJ, Braam LAJLM, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks APG, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women: A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thromb Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44.
4 Vermeer C and Vik H. Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: results from a one-year study. 2020 Vascul Dis Ther, 5: doi: 10.15761/VDT.1000179.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7 1-Year Cardio Study Publishes

Vascular Diseases and Therapeutics publishes 1-year study confirming MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 supplementation improves vascular health.
Science & studies
|
07 July 2020

A new one-year clinical trial has just been published showing that a daily nutritional dose of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 improved vascular health, adding to the substantial body of evidence confirming MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 is clinically validated to offer cardiovascular support.

According to the authors of “Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: results from a one-year study”, Matrix Gla-Protein (MGP) is involved in the prevention of arterial calcification. During vitamin K-insufficiency, MGP is produced in its inactive form: dp-ucMGP. Two 3-year intervention studies in the general population have shown that increased vitamin K intake may decrease arterial stiffening, but the difference with placebo became only significant in the third year of treatment. “In the present trial the researchers investigated whether in a pre-selected group of vitamin K-insufficient subjects (men and women) an effect of vitamin K-supplementation may be demonstrated within one year,” the authors wrote.

Completed by the expert researchers at VitaK, the placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial was performed in 243 subjects (40-70 years old) characterized by circulating dp-ucMGP concentrations above the median of the general population. Arterial stiffness was concluded from the carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV), and other vascular characteristics were measured by echotracking of the common carotid artery. Treatment was performed with either 180 µg/day of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7® from NattoPharma) or placebo for one year.

In the total study group, MK-7 induced a significant decrease of both dp-ucMGP and cfPWV. The authors conclude: “High vitamin K intake decreased age-related vascular stiffening. The effects were most obvious in women with poor vitamin K status, and were statistically significant after one year of treatment.”

“This study continues to build the rock-solid argument that MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 – not K1 or other unstudied Vitamin K2 ingredients – delivers important cardiovascular support,” says Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer. “In this study, the participants taking MenaQ7 maintained arterial flexibility and the stiffness did not increase, whereas placebo group became stiffer and less flexible.

Vik continues, “These results mirror what we have seen in epidemiological studies, where populations who consume a lot of dietary Vitamin K2 have healthier hearts and more flexible arteries, as well as our groundbreaking three-year study in healthy postmenopausal women. Vitamin K2 is indeed a vital cardiovascular support nutrient, and MenaQ7 is the only K2 as MK-7 clinically proven to do so.”

Reference:
Vermeer C and Vik H. Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: results from a one-year study. 2020 Vascul Dis Ther, 5: doi: 10.15761/VDT.1000179.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma & KD Pharma Partnership

NattoPharma and KD Nutra have entered into a partnership agreement to promote KD-PüR® high concentrate Omega-3s and MenaQ7® PharmaPure MK-7 combination.
Company Initiatives
|
24 June 2020

NattoPharma has entered into a partnership agreement with KD Nutra – a KD Pharma Group company – to create an innovative cardiovascular-support ingredient that combines KD Nutra’s KD-PüR® high concentrate omega-3s with NattoPharma’s category leading nature-identical Vitamin K2, MenaQ7® PharmaPure MK-7.

The exclusive partnership for KD-Pür® EPA and DHA ≥ 70% Concentrates and MenaQ7® K2 is available as part of the K2ardio3™ Platform, and offers a variety of custom formulations including complementary CV ingredients such as plant sterols. KD’s formulation expertise allows for proprietary blends and delivery options.

Omega-3s are widely known and accepted for their cardiovascular benefits, and KD Pharma’s high concentrate ingredients speak directly to this advantage. KD-Pür® technology gently extracts and purifies Omega-3s in a pharmaceutical GMP certified facility. This advanced technology is capable of purifying highly sensitive Omega-3s without the use of excessive heat, chemical solvents (green technology) or oxygen.

NattoPharma will provide the missing piece of the cardiovascular puzzle with MenaQ7® PharmaPure MK-7: MenaQ7® is the only vitamin K2 as MK-7 clinically proven to provide benefits for heart health, including maintaining and promoting arterial flexibility. MenaQ7® PharmaPure K2 was developed for its Rx division Kaydence Pharma and is part of several ongoing patient studies. Further, in addition to having two US patents for cardiovascular benefits, NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® is patent pending for the combination of omega-3s and vitamin K2.

“NattoPharma has been incubating a number of new concepts based on our high standard of clinical validation confirming true health benefits,” says NattoPharma CEO Kjetil Ramsøy. “KD Nutra’s rich history of innovation and stringent quality standards fits perfectly with NattoPharma’s principles, and the time is right to deliver an unsurpassed cardiovascular combination ingredient to the market.”

“With this exclusive partnership, KD Nutra’s K2ardio3™ platform can provide unique and comprehensive lipid and blood vessel management products for an increasing health aging demand,” says Scott Woodruff, CEO of KD Nutra.

Read More
Show less

Vitamin K2 Needs RDI: New Paper

NattoPharma research partners publish important review paper clearly identifying the need for a Vitamin K2-specific RDI.
Science & studies
|
24 June 2020

Widespread Vitamin K deficiency has had an indelible impact on global cardiovascular and bone health, yet there is no established RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) for Vitamin K2. To that end, Nutrients has published a new review paper[1] clearly identifying that differences between Vitamins K1 and K2, elucidating the need for a K2-specific RDI, completed with the support of NattoPharma, the Vitamin K2 leader, as partner within the Horizon 2020 grants EVOluTION and INTRICARE.

Vitamin K and its essential role in coagulation (vitamin K [Koagulation]) have been well established and accepted. Many countries have an RDI for vitamin K based on early research, and its necessary role in the activation of vitamin K-dependent coagulation proteins is known. According to the authors of “Vitamin K2 Needs an RDI Separate from Vitamin K1,” in the past few decades, the role of vitamin K-dependent proteins in processes beyond coagulation has been discovered. Various isoforms of vitamin K have been identified, and vitamin K2 as long-chain menaquinones (i.e., menaquinone-7, or MK-7) specifically has been highlighted for its long half-life and extrahepatic activity, whereas the dietary form vitamin K1 and shorter-chain menaquinones have much shorter half-lives.

“In this review, we highlight the specific activity of vitamin K2 based upon proposed frameworks necessary for a bioactive substance to be recommended for an RDI. Vitamin K2 meets all these criteria and should be considered for a specific dietary recommendation intake,” the authors write.

NattoPharma announced its intention to spearhead the pursuit of a K2-specific RDI in 2018. The program began with a team of researchers at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, the group that has led the way discovering and validating the health benefits of Vitamin K2, guided by Dr. Leon Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University. NattoPharma has worked closely with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of the company’s exclusive branded MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, since 2004 – work that has been recognized with many peer-reviewed scientific papers and with recently awarded research grants.

“We have been working with Maastricht University for almost two decades validating the health benefits of Vitamin K2, creating this category. Our work, in addition to others’, is building the necessary body of evidence required to convince regulatory bodies how essential Vitamin K2 is for the betterment of global human health,” says Kjetil Ramsøy, NattoPharma CEO. “This is no small undertaking, yet we at NattoPharma believe it is vital we reach a global recommendation for K2 intakes if we are to correct the K2 deficiency that has so negatively impacted the bone and cardiovascular health, and correcting this deficiency can benefit men and women, adults and children.”

To that end, through the Horizon 2020 grants awarded in which the CARIM is the beneficiary, in partnership with NattoPharma, the company has hosted PhD students (ESRs) to teach them about the food and supplement industry and foster a further understanding of the RDI values set by FDA/EFSA. These ESRs utilized this knowledge as they conducted a comprehensive literature review elucidating the data for K2’s bone and cardiovascular benefits. This cogent argument will work towards the efforts of petitioning for RDIs.

Since the program was initiated, four additional review papers[2-5] have been published, culminating with this solidified argument. Dr. Schurgers’ team has been joined by the International Science and Health Foundation (ISHF), a research consortium responsible for the educational portal VitaminK2.org.

References:
1 Akbulut AC, Pavlic A, Petsophonsakul P, Halder, M, Maresz K, Kramann R, Schurgers L. Vitamin K2 Needs an RDI Separate from Vitamin K1. Nutrients 2020, 12, 1852; doi:10.3390/nu12061852.
2 Halder M, Petsophonsakul P, Akbulut AC, Pavlic A, Bohan F, Anderson E, Maresz K, Kramann R, Schurgers L. Vitamin K: Double Bonds Beyond Coagulation Insights Into Differences Between Vitamin K1 and K2 in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2019, 20, 896; doi:10.3390/ijms20040896.
3 Petsophonsakul P, Furmanik M, Forsythe R, Dweck M, Schurink GW, Natour E, Reutelingsperger C, Jacobs M, Mees B,Schurgers L. Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Calcification in Aortic Aneurysm Formation: Involvement of Vitamin K-Dependent Processes. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019;39:00-00. DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312787.
4 1 Florea A, Morgenroth A, Bucerius J, Schurgers LJ, Mottaghy FM. Locking and loading the bullet against micro-calcification. Euro J Prev Cardiology (2020) 0(00) 1-8. doi:10.1177/2047487320911138.
5 Dai L, Schurgers LJ, Shiels PG, Stenvinkel P. Early vascular ageing in chronic kidney disease: impact of inflammation, vitamin K, senescence and genomic damage. Nephrol Dial Transplant (2020) 35:ii31-37. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfaa006.

Read More
Show less

K2 Lowers CHD Risk: New Study

New prospective cohort study identifies K2 as cardio-protective while K1 intakes are not.
Science & studies
|
28 May 2020

The British Medical Journal recently published an observational study that examined the association between intakes of vitamins K1 and K2 and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). The 11-year Norwegian community-based prospective cohort did indeed show a link between K2 intakes and a lower risk of subsequent CHD events, building the evidence that K2’s impact on calcification can greatly improve health outcomes.

According to “Association of dietary vitamin K and risk of coronary heart disease in middle-age adults: the Hordaland Health Study Cohort”[1], the role of vitamin K in the regulation of vascular calcification is established, and that patients with both medial and intimal calcification have a higher cardiovascular risk when compared with similar patients without calcification. Therefore, an inverse association between vitamin K intake and coronary heart disease (CHD) could be expected. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the association between intake of both K1 and K2 and subsequent CHD events among community-living middle-aged adults in Norway.

The researchers concluded “a higher intake of vitamin K2 was associated with lower risk of CHD, while there was no association between intake of vitamin K1 and CHD.”

The paper is significant because it not only adds to the growing body of evidence substantiating vitamin K2 as a cardiovascular-support nutrient, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik, but it helps to clarify the confusion that “vitamin K is vitamin K,” also confirming the need for a K2-specific recommended daily intake (RDI).

“NattoPharma has driven the research confirming vitamin K2’s important health benefits, showing in human studies with healthy[2] and patient participants that the progression of hardening of the arteries can be halted and even regressed with daily supplementation of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2,” says Dr. Vik, noting that this study builds on the body of evidence linking vitamin K status to health concerns such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD)[3], coronary calcification[4], dementia[5], vascular stiffness in chronic kidney disease patients (CKD)[6] and more. “The common link is calcification and the need for adequate vitamin K2 intakes to inhibit this in our circulatory system and tissues. Due to its very molecular structure, vitamin K2 can move beyond the liver to support other systems of the body, such as the bones and vasculature, where K1 cannot. There remains a great deal of confusion that K1 supports both bone and heart health, and this paper helps to identify the difference between the two in that K1 is not linked to cardiovascular health, whereas K2 is linked to both.

“These results mirror what we have seen in epidemiological studies, where populations who consume a lot of dietary Vitamin K2 have healthier hearts and more flexible arteries,” Vik adds. “Recognition of vitamin K2’s benefits as strong and significant elucidated inhibitor of vascular and soft tissue calcification is one of the core reasons a separate RDI should be established.”

Researchers followed participants (2,987 Norwegian men and women aged 46-49 years) in the community-based Hordaland Health Study from 1997 – 1999 through 2009 to evaluate associations between intake of vitamin K and incident (new onset) CHD. Baseline diet was assessed by a past-year food frequency questionnaire. During a median follow-up time of 11 years, we documented 112 incident CHD cases.

In the adjusted analyses, there was no association between intake of vitamin K1 and CHD (HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.92 (95% CI 0.54 to 1.57), p for trend 0.64), while there was a lower risk of CHD associated with higher intake of energy-adjusted vitamin K2 (HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.52 (0.29 to 0.94), p for trend 0.03). Further adjustment for potential dietary confounders did not materially change the association for K1, while the association for K2 was slightly attenuated (HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.58 (0.28 to 1.19)).

Given the limited number of epidemiological studies, and the fact that dietary vitamin K sources and content differ between countries, the researchers noted that further research is warranted.

References:
1 Haugsgjerd TR, Egeland GM, Nygård OK, et al. Association of dietary vitamin K and risk of coronary heart disease in middle-age adults: the Hordaland Health Study Cohort. BMJ Open 2020;10:e035953. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035953.
2 Knapen MHJ, Braam LAKJLM, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks APG, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Improves Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Postmenopausal Women. A Double-Blind Randomised Clinical Trial. Thromb Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44.
3 Vissers LET, Dalmeijer GW, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, van der Schouw YT, Beulens JWJ. The relationship between vitamin K and peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis 252 (2016) 15e20.
4 Wei FF, Thijs L, Cauwenberghs N, Yang WY, Zhang ZY, Yu CG, Kuznetsova T, et al. Central Hemodynamics in Relation to Circulating Desphospho-Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein: A Population Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8:e011960. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.119.011960.
5 Cui C, Sekikawa A, Kuller LH, Lopez OL, Newman AB, Kuipers AL, Mackey RH. Aortic stiffness is associated with increased risk of incident dementia in older adults. J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2018;66(1):297-306.
6 Thamratnopkoon S, Susantitaphong P, Tumkosit M, Katavetin P, Tiranathanagul K, Praditpornsilpa K, Eiam-Ong S. Correlations of Plasma Desphosphorylated Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein with Vascular Calcification and Vascular Stiffness in Chronic Kidney Disease. Nephron. 2017;135(3):167-172.

Read More
Show less

K Status Potential Modifiable Risk Factor in COVID-19

New study links better Vitamin K status in patients with COVID-19 to improved outcomes compared to patients with poor Vitamin K status, and suggests a link to accelerated tissue degradation.
Science & studies
|
27 April 2020

Preprints.org has published a new paper examining the link between outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and low vitamin K status compared to patients with better vitamin K status and healthy controls. The study also demonstrates a link to COVID-19 patients that had other conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, which are linked to low vitamin K status, including a breakdown of tissue fibers as measured by elastin, which is involved with pulmonary disease.

One key factor in this study is the measurement of vitamin K status determined by the amount of the “inactive” vitamin K-dependent protein, desphospho-uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein (dp-ucMGP). Dp-ucMGP is inversely related to vitamin K status. NattoPharma, the leading vitamin K2 company, has promoted research on the benefits of supplemental vitamin K2 activating vitamin K-dependent proteins, including MGP, and validating these benefits for cardiovascular and bone health for more than 16 years, resulting in 19 published human studies with MenaQ7® Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is the most bioactive form of vitamin K in the activation of MGP and vitamin K-dependent proteins.

Vitamin K2 supplementation promoting active MGP for cardiovascular health is validated, including in a 3-year study with healthy postmenopausal women. In this trial using NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2, arterial flexibility was maintained or even improved. This has put forward the hypothesis that adequate vitamin K status in heart health may improve outcomes.

Researchers from Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), The Netherlands, conducted the study. NattoPharma has maintained a long-time relationship with Maastricht University conducting and participating in many studies on vitamin K2 as well as with other institutions.

“The study represents an amazing finding,” explains Prof. Leon Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, and co-author of the study. “While we do not suggest vitamin K2 is a treatment for COVID-19, this study illustrates that a poor vitamin K status – deduced from high dp-ucMGP levels – is linked to poor prognosis. Thus, hypothesizing that improving vitamin K2 status is linked to better health outcomes including cardiovascular, and perhaps even lung health.”

COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2), and while most patients have mild symptoms, a significant number develops respiratory failure. COVID-19 may also progress beyond the lungs including coagulopathy, a condition in which the blood’s ability to coagulate (form clots) is impaired, and thromboembolism, an obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site in the circulation. Coagulation is an intricate balance between clot promoting and dissolving processes in which vitamin K plays a well-known role. Further, it has been previously suggested for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that accelerated use of vitamin K stores in the body may also be a potential reason for vitamin K deficiency in patients with severe COVID-19.

In this study, Vitamin K status was evaluated in 123 patients with COVID-19 and 184 controls. Results of the study found that dp-ucMGP were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, and dp-ucMGP levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with unfavorable outcomes compared to those with less severe disease (good outcome) – all pointing towards a link between vitamin K deficiency and disease severity. Also, low dp-ucMGP levels were significantly correlated with desmosine levels, a measure of the breakdown of elastin, which is an important factor for pulmonary health.

Vitamin K status was assessed by measuring the “inactive status” of the vitamin K-dependent MGP, a recognized indicator related to vitamin K status, and the rate of elastin degradation was assessed by measuring desmosine, a recognized marker. In this study, a significant correlation between reduced vitamin K status and accelerated elastic fiber degradation was shown.

The researchers found that deficiency of vitamin K might be suspected to be associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, given that patients with severe COVID-19 are more likely to have comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, which are associated with reduced vitamin K status.

According to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik, “Supplementation of vitamin K increases the vitamin K status in the body as measured by the level of active vitamin K-dependent proteins, and vitamin K2 is clearly the best form of vitamin K due to its superior bioactivity. MGP is the most potent known inhibitor of vascular calcification to date. MGP is a K-dependent protein already present in the body, but it needs adequate vitamin K2 to be activated to perform its function. Our three-year clinical study of healthy postmenopausal women showed that 180mcg of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 daily resulted in not only cessation, but remarkably regression in arterial stiffness (i.e., their arteries became more flexible) in the MenaQ7 group through MGP activation.”

According to the study, vitamin K-dependent MGP is generally accepted as an inhibitor of vascular calcification, and there are scientific leads suggesting that MGP also plays a role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. MGP is crucial for the protection of elastic fibers against mineralization and fibrosis may be present in lungs of patients with severe COVID-19.

The study concludes that Vitamin K status was reduced in patients with COVID-19 and related to poor prognosis. Importantly, vitamin K levels were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls, as has been shown in patients with comorbidities. Also, low vitamin K status seems to be associated with accelerated elastin degradation. In conclusion, vitamin K status was reduced in COVID-19 patients compared to controls and was associated with disease severity.

While inspired by the results, the study authors remain cautious and eager for next steps: “It might be tempting to speculate that vitamin K administration has an improving effect on vitamin K status in severe COVID-19 patients; however, this has never been studied in this patient group. Additionally, whether improving vitamin K status would correlate with better prognosis in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals has to be tested,” they write. “Preliminary evidence was provided suggesting a potential mechanistic link between reduced vitamin K status and accelerated tissue degradation. An intervention trial is now needed to assess whether vitamin K administration improves outcome in patients with COVID-19.”

References:
1 Dofferhoff, A.S.; Piscaer, I.; Schurgers, L.J.; Walk, J.; van den Ouweland, J.M.; Hackeng, T.M.; Lux, P.; Maassen, C.; Karssemeijer, E.G.; Wouters, E.F.; Janssen, R. Reduced Vitamin K Status as A Potentially Modifiable Prognostic Risk Factor in COVID-19. Preprints 2020, 2020040457 (doi: 10.20944/preprints202004.0457.v1).
2 Knapen MH, Braam LA, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks AP, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thromb Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44. Doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675.
3 Cranenburg EC, Koos R, Schurgers LJ, Magdeleyns EJ, Schoonbrood TH, Landewe RB, Brandenburg VM, Bekers O, Vermeer C. Characterisation and potential diagnostic value of circulating matrix Gla protein (MGP) species. Thromb Haemost. 2010;104(4):811-22. Doi: 10.1160/TH09-11-0786.
4 Cranenburg EC, Vermeer C, Koos R, Boumans ML, Hackeng TM, Bouwman FG, Kwaijtaal M, Brandenburg VM, Ketteler M, Schurgers LJ. The Circulating Inactive Form of Matrix Gla Protein (ucMGP) as a Biomarker for Cardiovascular Calcification. J Vasc Res 2008;45:427-436. Doi: 10:1159/000124863

Read More
Show less

K2 is the Micro-calcification Bullet: New Paper

Vitamin K2 featured in new CV calcification paper, supported by NattoPharma, published in Euro Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Science & studies
|
07 April 2020

The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has published a new review paper examining the link between micro-calcification and atherosclerosis, focusing on cardiovascular imaging techniques and evaluating the concept of vitamin K supplementation to preserve cardiovascular health. The review paper, the result of the INTRICARE grant awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program, is another strong piece of evidence identifying vitamin K2 as an essential cardiovascular nutrient.

The authors of “Locking and loading the bullet against micro-calcification”[1], identified the most suitable technique for detecting micro-calcification and assessed state-of-the-art meta-analysis and clinical studies to identify possible treatment options and evaluate the concept of vitamin K supplementation to preserve vascular health. “Despite recent medical advances, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide,” says Prof. Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University. “Our exhaustive, structured PubMed search showed that 18F-socium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET is the most suitable technique for detecting active micro-calcification, a hallmark of atherosclerosis.”

Presenting the pros and cons of available treatments, “vitamin K supplementation should be considered as a possible safe and cost-effective option to inhibit vascular (micro)-calcification,” the paper concludes.

The paper is significant because it adds to the growing body of evidence substantiating vitamin K2 as an essential cardiovascular support nutrient, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.

“There are some who view atherosclerosis as an age-related condition – that calcification simply builds up over time. NattoPharma contends that this condition is not simply age-related; rather, that atherosclerosis is the product of a vitamin deficiency: vitamin K2,” says Dr. Vik. “Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) is the most potent known inhibitor of vascular calcification to date. MGP is a K-dependent protein already present in the body, but it needs adequate Vitamin K2 in order to be activated to perform its function. Our three-year clinical study[2] of healthy postmenopausal women showed that 180mcg of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 daily resulted in not only cessation, but remarkably regression in arterial stiffness (i.e., their arteries became more flexible) in the MenaQ7 group through activation of MGP.”

It is important to note that no other compound to date has been able to produce the results experienced with a daily nutritional dose of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7®),” Dr. Vik adds. “This study has served as a platform for other clinical trials investigating K2 in patient populations with existing coronary artery calcification, aortic valve calcification, and peripheral artery calcification, and these studies are being driven by the medical community.”

“The work conducted in collaboration with NattoPharma under the INTRICARE grant has not only helped us shine a light on the most reliable technique for detecting active micro-calcification, providing some hope in getting ahead of compromised cardiovascular health, but also the science supporting various therapy options, including supplementation,” says Prof. Schurgers. “Essentially, this work will help drive awareness how we can ‘lock in’ on the effects of vascular calcification (18F-NaF PET) and ‘load’ a suitable, cost-effective bullet (vitamin K).”

The review paper is the result of the INTRICARE (grant agreement No 722609) grant funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program, awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network to train a total of 26 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) focusing on harnessing endogenous mechanisms for health and the effect of vitamin K to hold or regress microcalcification and subsequent cardiovascular disease.

References:
1 Florea A, Morgenroth A, Bucerius J, Schurgers LJ, Mottaghy FM. Locking and loading the bullet against micro-calcification. Euro J Prev Cardiology (2020) 0(00) 1-8. doi:10.1177/2047487320911138
2 Knapen MH, Braam LA, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks AP, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thromb Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44. Doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675.
PR: NattoPharma Research Network Receives 4M€ Research Grant

Read More
Show less

Vitamin K2 & Healthy Aging

New review paper, completed as part of INTRICARE research grant, identifies vitamin K2’s crucial role in inflammation and cardiovascular health.
Science & studies
|
01 April 2020

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation has published a new review paper examining the link between early vascular aging in chronic kidney disease, with a focus on the role of vitamin K’s role in counteracting oxidative stress and the aging process. The review paper, the result of the INTRICARE grant awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program, is an important stride solidifying vitamin K2 as an important nutrient to support healthy aging.

According to the authors of “Early vascular ageing in chronic kidney disease: impact of inflammation, vitamin K, senescence and genomic damage”, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are characterized by an accelerated ageing process, including cardiovascular complications, persistent uraemic inflammation, muscle wasting, osteoporosis and frailty, preceding initiation of renal replacement therapy with dialysis or kidney transplantation. The accelerated early vascular ageing (EVA) process mediated by medial vascular calcification (VC) is a hallmark of senescence (the condition or process of deterioration with age) as well as a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the CKD population.

“Current clinical therapeutic strategies and novel treatments for VC have not yet been proven to prevent or reverse VC progression in patients with CKD. Knowledge of the fundamental mechanism underlying EVA is urgently needed to identify and develop novel and efficient therapeutic targets for VC and EVA,” they wrote.

The paper is significant because it adds to the growing body of evidence substantiating vitamin K2 as an aging support nutrient, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.

“Compromised bone and heart health are not merely age-related issues; rather, they are signs of a vitamin K2 deficiency,” says Vik. “NattoPharma has driven the research confirming vitamin K2’s important health benefits, showing in human studies with healthy and patient participants, including CKD patients, that the progression of hardening of the arteries can be halted and even regressed, and that bone strength can be improved with daily supplementation of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2.”

The research team identified an accumulating body of evidence indicating that DNA damage–induced cellular senescence and “inflammaging” may largely contribute to such pathological conditions characterized by accelerated EVA. “Growing evidence shows that nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling and vitamin K play a crucial role in counteracting oxidative stress, DNA damage, senescence and inflammaging, whereby NRF2 activation and vitamin K supplementation may provide a novel treatment target for EVA,” they concluded.

“This work conducted under the INTRICARE grant will highlight the accumulated research demonstrating that vitamin K2 consumption might serve as a potential therapy for patients who express intense calcification as a symptom of their condition,” says Prof. Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University; and senior author and leader of the INTRICARE project. “We appreciate the support of NattoPharma.”

Dr. Vik also notes that the paper is a necessary step towards recognizing the importance of a vitamin K2-specific RDI, an endeavor NattoPharma is currently spearheading with the help of its research partners.

“Recognition of Vitamin K2’s benefits as strong and significant elucidated inhibitor of vascular and soft tissue calcification is one of the core reasons a separate RDI should be established,” Vik adds. “We are proud that our partnership with Maastricht University and this prestigious grant has given us an opportunity to further the understanding of the necessity of obtaining adequate K2 for human health.”

The review paper is the result of the INTRICARE (grant agreement No 722609) grant funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program, awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network to train a total of 26 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) focusing on harnessing endogenous mechanisms for health and the effect of vitamin K to hold or regress microcalcification and subsequent cardiovascular disease.

References:
Dai L, Schurgers LJ, Shiels PG, Stenvinkel P. Early vascular ageing in chronic kidney disease: impact of inflammation, vitamin K, senescence and genomic damage. Nephrol Dial Transplant (2020) 35:ii31-37. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfaa006
PR: NattoPharma Research Network Receives 4M€ Research Grant

Read More
Show less
2019

K2 as MK-7 Improves Endothelial Function

New MenaQ7® mouse study publishes, furthering argument of K2 as MK-7 as a cardio-protective nutrient by highlighting new pharmacological activity.
Science & studies
|
12 November 2019

Adding to the already-strong body of clinical evidence confirming Vitamin K2 as MK-7 inhibits arterial calcification and acts as an antioxidant, a study recently published in Vascular Pharmacology shows K2 as MK-7 boosts nitric oxide (NO), improving NO-dependent endothelial function. The study used MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, supplied by NattoPharma.

Endothelial dysfunction has been associated with many health issues, including being a well-established response to cardiovascular risk factors and precedes the development of atherosclerosis, a disease of the arteries characterized by the development deposition of plaques of and by vascular inflammation fatty material on the inner walls. Given the fact that endothelial function determines cardiovascular health, researchers hypothesized that the positive effects of vitamin K2 intake on cardiovascular mortality could be linked to the vitamin K-dependent regulation of endothelial function. According to researchers, ”The aim was to examine the effects of vitamin K2 – MK-7 on endothelial dysfunction, in ApoE/LDLR-/- mice at the early and late stages of disease development, in the absence and in the presence of atherosclerotic plaques, respectively.”

”We are incredibly encouraged by the results of this study highlighting new pharmacological activity of Vitamin K2 as MK-7,” explains Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer.

In ApoE/LDLR-/- mice at the stage prior to atherosclerosis development, four-week treatment with K2-MK-7, given at a low dose (0.05 mg/kg), “improved acetylcholine- and flow-induced, endothelium-dependent vasodilation in aorta or in femoral artery, as assessed in vivo by MRI. This effect, was associated with an increased NO production, as evidenced by EPR measurements in ex vivo aorta.”

The study concluded that low dose of Vitamin K2 – MK-7 compatible with effective doses for K2 – MK-7 recommended for humans, to provide benefits for cardiovascular health, plays an important role in the regulation of endothelial function.

“The study demonstrated that vitamin K2 – MK-7 improved NO-dependent endothelial function in mice, and the results showed that K2 – MK-7 provided a vaso-protective effect independently whether endothelial dysfunction was treated with vitamin K2 – MK-7 prior to or concurrently with the occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques,” explains Vik. ”This contributes nicely to our already substantial body of research showing MenaQ7 is a cardio-protective nutrient, and reaffirms why the medical community is interested in ongoing study of this important nutrient for the betterment of global health.”

Reference:
Bar A, Kus K, et al. Vitamin K2-MK-7 improves nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function in ApoE/LDLR mice. Vascul Pharmacol. 2019 Aug 14: 106581. Doi: 1016/j.vph.2019.106581.

Read More
Show less

New Paper Advances K2 Cardiovascular Argument

NattoPharma participant in grant funding study once again links Vitamin K2 benefits against calcification and oxidative stress.
Science & studies
|
25 July 2019

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology has published a new paper examining the well-known and alternative pathways of Vitamin K, adding to the substantial argument that Vitamin K2 can greatly impact cardiovascular health. The paper was funded by a grant awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant.

“NattoPharma has a long history of funding research and participating in collaborative research such as was provided in the Horizon 2020 grant. The body of evidence supporting cardiovascular health benefits continues to grow and we believe will help expand both awareness and consumer demand for Vitamin K2,” says NattoPharma CEO Kjetil Ramsøy,

Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer, explains: “According to at least five different epidemiological studies, Vitamin K2 – and not K1 – is cardio-protective. That is why the majority of new clinical trials, which are focused on cardiovascular health, are performed using K2 as MK-7. Moreover, Vitamin K2 was shown to be not only more potent form than Vitamin K1, but also the compound that possesses additional biological activity (not present in the case of K1).”

Aortic aneurysm is a vascular disease whereby the ECM (extracellular matrix) of a blood vessel degenerates, leading to dilation and eventually vessel wall rupture. Recently, it was shown that calcification of the vessel wall is involved in both the initiation and progression of aneurysms. To that end, the authors of the paper, “Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Calcification in Aortic Aneurysm Formation: Involvement of Vitamin K-Dependent Processes”, summarize the current literature on vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and vascular calcification in relation to aneurysm. Moreover, they address the role of vitamin K and vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) that are involved in vascular calcification and aneurysm.

The review highlighted well-known and alternative pathways of vitamin K activity:
• Vitamin K is known to activate Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), by which it inhibits vascular calcification.
• Vitamin K has the ability to scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and decrease vascular calcification.

“Therefore, it is tempting to postulate that vitamin K deficiency plays a role in aneurysm formation,” the authors conclude. “Vitamin K supplementation holds the potential to lower the risk of aortic aneurysms and improve cardiovascular outcome.”

The paper is significant because it continues to build upon the argument that Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient for protecting cardiovascular health, while also opening up new areas of benefits, according to Dr. Vik.

“Once again, Vitamin K is known to activate MGP, which inhibits vascular calcification,” says Vik. “This new paper also finds vitamin K has the ability to scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and decrease calcification. We support the authors’ supposition that Vitamin K deficiency plays a role in aneurysm formation. Clearly, Vitamin K2 supplementation holds the potential to lower the risk of aortic aneurysms and improve cardiovascular outcomes.”

The review paper is the result of the Horizon 2020 grant awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network, coordinated by Queen Mary University of London. Other partners of the network are four highly ranked research university departments in Europe [University of Maastricht, University College Dublin (part of the national University of Ireland), Ludvig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm] and the independent life science medical research charity in the UK, the Medical Research Council Technology. The grant NattoPharma participates in is called “EVOLuTION” (European Vascular Interventions and Therapeutic Innovation Network), and the money will be utilized to provide training for 11 early-stage researchers (ESRs) in the management of chronic diseases in the field of cardiovascular disease.

Reference:
Petsophonsakul P, Furmanik M, Forsythe R, Dweck M, Schurink GW, Natour E, Reutelingsperger C, Jacobs M, Mees B,
Schurgers L. Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Calcification in Aortic Aneurysm Formation: Involvement of Vitamin K-Dependent Processes. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019;39:00-00. DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312787.
PR: NattoPharma Named Partner For EU Research Grant

Read More
Show less

AHA Paper Links K2 Status & Cardio Risk; Emphasizes PWV

Improving K2 status may significantly benefit arterial stiffening and calcification, reducing cardiovascular complications.
Science & studies
|
25 June 2019

The American Heart Association has published a new study examining the effect excessive inactive Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) has on cardiovascular health, namely increased stiffening and calcification of large arteries. This stiffening increases cardiovascular stress, which can be accurately assessed using pulse wave velocity measurements, and can be alleviated by improving one’s Vitamin K2 status.

The study, “Central Hemodynamics in Relation to Circulating Desphospho-Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein: A Population Study”, evaluated vitamin K status (dp-ucMGP) in 835 randomly recruited Flemish individuals. The researchers found that higher inactive dp-ucMGP was associated with greater pulse wave velocity (PWV), central pressure, forward pulse wave, and backward pulse wave.

The authors wrote: “Stiffening and calcification of the large arteries are forerunners of cardiovascular complications. MGP, which requires vitamin K–dependent activation, is a potent locally acting inhibitor of arterial calcification. We hypothesized that the central hemodynamic properties might be associated with inactive desphosphouncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP).”

The authors concluded that, along with the current body of literature, the study’s findings show “In people representative for the general population, higher inactive dp-ucMGP was associated with greater PWV,
central pulse pressure, forward pulse wave, and backward pulse wave. These observations highlight new avenues for preserving vascular integrity and preventing cardiovascular complications (eg, by improving a person’s vitamin K status).”

The paper is significant because it articulates the importance of pulse wave velocity measurements in gauging cardiovascular impact, and adds to the significant body of evidence NattoPharma has cultivated showing that improving K status can provide true health benefits, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.

“This research again confirms a link to vitamin K status and risk of cardiovascular health. NattoPharma’s research has shown that vitamin K2 supplementation can halt and even regress progression of arterial stiffness. This paper recognizes that stiffening and calcification of the large arteries are forerunners of cardiovascular complication, and the mechanism to prevent this is the vitamin K-dependent activation of MGP.”

“Importantly,” Vik continued, “only vitamin K2 intake has been linked to cardiovascular benefit as K2 is the most bioactive and longest-lasting form of vitamin K. Vitamin K1, for example, has not been linked to cardiovascular benefit as K2 seems to be the form of K active outside of the liver for cardiovascular health.”

Reference:
Wei F, Thijs L, Cauwenberghs N, Yang W, Zhang A, Yu C, Kuznetsova T, Nawrot T, Struijker-Boudier HA, Verhamme P, Vermeer C, Staessen JA. Central Hemodynamics in Relation to Circulating Desphospho-Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein: A Population Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8:e01 1960.

Read More
Show less

K1 is NOT Cardio-Protective: New Study

Vitamin K2 supports heart health through impact on Matrix Gla Protein; K1 has no effect.
Science & studies
|
25 June 2019

Vitamin K is not a single vitamin – it is a family of vitamins comprised of vitamins K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone). While multiple observational studies and small-scale intervention studies suggest that high K intake is associated with improved markers for cardiovascular health – namely increased Matrix Gla protein (MGP) activation – a recent study published in Clinical Nutrition investigated the causal relationship between genetically predicted K concentrations and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), and found that K1 had no impact on MGP, noting that Vitamin K2 has a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

The study, “Circulating phylloquinone, inactive Matrix Gla protein and coronary heart disease risk: A two-sample Mendelian Randomization study”, examined data from three studies: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-CVD case cohort study, CARDIOGRAMplusC4D and the UK Biobank, resulting in 103,097 CHD cases. Genetically predicted vitamin K concentrations were measured using circulating phylloquinone and dephosphorylated uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP).

The authors wrote: “Using the genetic score for circulating phylloquinone, we found that circulating phylloquinone was not causually related to CHD risk (RR 1.00 (95%CI: 0.98; 1.04)). Lower genetically predicted dp-ucMGP concentration was associated with lower CHD risk with a RR of 0/96 (95%CI: 0.93; 0.99) for every 10 μg/L decrease in dpucMGP.

“This inconsistent result may reflect the influence of menaquinones in the association with CHD,” the authors concluded.

The paper is significant because it articulates the difference in health impact between vitamins K1 and K2, and highlights that vitamin K2 must be obtained for a cardiovascular benefit.

“While it is true that ‘improving K status’ will impact cardiovascular health, this paper helps to emphasize that all K vitamins are not the same. NattoPharma’s research has shown that vitamin K2 supplementation can halt and even regress progression of arterial stiffness, and that is accomplished through the activation of MGP,” says Eric Anderson, NattoPharma Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development. “NattoPharma has been at the forefront of making the industry aware of the research around Vitamin K2 and K-dependent proteins. Our long-term mission is to elucidate Vitamin K2’s benefits beyond Vitamin K1, as this Clinical Nutrition paper has shown, with the ultimate goal of securing a K2-specific recommended daily intake (RDI).”

Reference:
Zwakenberg SR, Burgess S, Sluijis I, Weiderpass E, Beulens JWJ, van der Schouw YT. Circulating phylloquinone, inactive Matrix Gla protein and coronary heart disease risk: A two-sample Mendelian Randomization study. Clin Nutr. 2019 May 7. pii: S0261-5614(19)30200-6.

Read More
Show less

K2 vs K1: New Paper

New review paper, completed as part of INTRICARE and EVOluTION research grants, advances argument for Vitamin K2-specific RDI.
Science & studies
|
26 February 2019

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences has published a new review paper examining the differences between vitamins K1 and K2, showing that based on its very molecular structure K2 is available beyond the liver to support systems like the bone and vasculature through proper calcium utilization. The review paper, the result of the INTRICARE and EVOluTION grants awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program, is an important step in establishing the need for a Vitamin K2-specific recommended daily intake (RDI).

According to the authors, the paper “Vitamin K: Double Bonds beyond Coagulation Insights into Differences between Vitamin K1 and K2 in Health and Disease”, is the first to highlight differences between isoforms vitamin K1 and K2 by means of source, function, and extrahepatic activity. Prof. Schurgers states that functions of K2 are proving to be beneficial with regard to cardiovascular diseases and bone metabolism, yet there is a growing body of evidence suggesting vitamin K2 is involved in multiple cellular processes and might have a protective role in various organs throughout the human body. To that end it is important to consider an RDI reflective of these additional roles.

“When exploring the non-coagulation, extrahepatic activities of vitamin K, it is clear that K2 in its various forms is the highlight of such activity. Therefore, although history and nomenclature have classed K1 and K2 into the same category, these molecules can have a very different action in the body,” says Prof. Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University; and senior author and leader of the research project. “Major health organizations, such as WHO, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established RDI for vitamin K, which is solely based on the dose of K1 to retain an appropriate blood clotting function. Differences between K1 and K2 merit recognition among national and international regulatory organizations, and remain open to research.”

The paper is significant because it is a necessary step towards recognizing the importance of a vitamin K2-specific RDI, an endeavor NattoPharma is currently spearheading with the help of its research partners, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.

“This review paper continues to explore the differences between Vitamin K1 with its known benefit for coagulation and the newly recognized benefits of Vitamin K2 also to function extrahepatically to support bone and cardiovascular health,” says Vik. “Practically, the body of evidence today supports a dominant role for Vitamin K2 in the inhibition of calcification of soft tissues because of its better bioavailability and bioactivity. Observational studies and gold standard double-blind, placebo-controlled trials show that Vitamin K2 may inhibit vascular calcification and even hold progression of vascular stiffness.

“Recognition of Vitamin K2’s benefits as strong and significant elucidated inhibitor of vascular and soft tissue calcification is one of the core reasons a separate RDI should be established,” Vik adds. “We are proud that our partnership with Maastricht University and these prestigious grants have given us an opportunity to further the understanding of the necessity of obtaining adequate vitamin K2 for human health.”

The review paper is the result of the INTRICARE (grant agreement No 722609) and EVOluTION (grant agreement No 675111) grants funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program, awarded to NattoPharma’s International Research Network to train a total of 26 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) focusing on harnessing endogenous mechanisms for health and the effect of vitamin K to hold or regress microcalcification and subsequent cardiovascular disease.

Reference:
Halder M, Petsophonsakul P, Akbulut AC, Pavlic A, Bohan F, Anderson E, Maresz K, Kramann R, Schurgers L. Vitamin K: Double Bonds Beyond Coagulation Insights Into Differences Between Vitamin K1 and K2 in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2019, 20, 896; doi:10.3390/ijms20040896
PR: NattoPharma Research Network Receives 4M€ Research Grant
PR: NattoPharma Named Partner for Horizon 2020 EU Research Grant

Read More
Show less

K2 & Calcium Paper

Journal publishes paper highlighting Vitamin K2 role in bone and vasculature, completed as part of Norwegian Research Council grant.
Science & studies
|
06 February 2019

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine has published a new review paper examining calcium supplementation’s impact on bone and cardiovascular health, and the role Vitamin K2 plays in proper calcium utilization. The review paper is the result of a grant from the Norwegian Research Council awarded to NattoPharma to fund a 4-year PhD project to document the effect of calcium metabolism in the body based on the presence or absence of vitamin K2, MK-7, where NattoPharma has provided MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 for research conducted at the University of Maastricht, led by Professor Leon Schurgers.*

According to the authors, the paper “The bone-vasculature axis: calcium supplementation and the role of vitamin K”, provides an update on current literature on calcium supplementation among post-menopausal women and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and discusses underlying molecular mechanisms of vascular calcification. Prof. Schurgers states that therapeutic strategies with vitamin K2 treatment should be considered to prevent or hold progression of vascular calcification as a consequence of excessive calcium intake.

“The work conducted in collaboration with NattoPharma under the Norwegian Research Council grant will provide further evidence that calcium without adequate vitamin K2 consumption might end up in the soft tissues where it is not wanted, rather than in the bone matrix, where it is needed,” says Prof. Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University; and senior author and leader of the research project. “In a recent study by Bolland et al., it was shown that calcium supplementation of postmenopausal women was associated with a beneficial effect on bone, but also with increased myocardial infarction, suggesting detrimental effects on the vascular system possibly by inducing increased vascular calcification. As calcium supplementation is needed for bone, the precipitation in the vessel wall needs to be inhibited.”

The paper is significant because it adds to the growing body of evidence substantiating MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as a bone- and cardiovascular-support nutrient, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.

“Compromised bone and heart health are not merely age-related issues; rather, they are signs of a core nutrient deficiency: vitamin K2,” says Vik. “NattoPharma has driven the research confirming vitamin K2’s important health benefits, showing in human studies with healthy participants that the progression of hardening of the arteries can be halted and even regressed, and that bone strength can be improved with daily supplementation of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2.

“We are proud that our partnership with Maastricht University and this prestigious grant have given us an opportunity to further the understanding of the necessity of obtaining adequate vitamin K2 for human health,” Dr. Vik adds. “We hope these findings will earn the attention of manufacturers and consumers alike, helping them to recognize that all calcium supplementation must be paired with vitamin K2 so bone and heart health can be simultaneously supported.”

* Prof. Schurgers’ research is additionally funded in part via the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 722609 in which NattoPharma is partner.

References:
Wasilewski GB, Vervloet MG, Schurgers LJ. The Bone-Vasculature Axis: Calcium Supplementation and the Role of Vitamin K. Front. Cardiovasc. Med, 5 Feb 2019. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2019.00006

Read More
Show less

K2 Status Linked to Brain & Eye Health

Two papers connect Matrix Gla Protein status and aortic stiffness as factors in compromised eye and brain health; K2 needed to activate this important protein.
Science & studies
|
10 January 2019

The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Scientific Reports recently published papers that examined the role of aortic stiffness due to calcification as a contributing factor to dementia and retinal arteriolar health, respectively. Both conditions are impacted by the status of active Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), the most potent inhibitor of vascular calcification (once activated by Vitamin K2 as MK-7), the mechanism by which K2 is now recognized as a cardiovascular protector, and MenaQ7® from NattoPharma is the only Vitamin K2 as MK-7 clinically validated and patented for cardiovascular health.

According to “Aortic stiffness associated with Increased Risk of Dementia in Older Adults”[1], cardiovascular disease risk factors, including age, hypertension, and diabetes, contribute to aortic stiffness and subclinical cardiovascular and brain disease, increasing dementia risk. Aortic stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), reduces the buffering of pulsatile blood flow, exposing cerebral small arteries to microvascular damage. The paper goes on to question whether interventions to slow arterial stiffening (such as K2 supplementation) can reduce the risk of dementia.

Meanwhile, the paper “Inactive matrix Gla protein is a novel circulating biomarker predicting retinal arteriolar narrowing in humans”[2] examined how active MGP, “a potent inhibitor of calcification in large arteries, protects against macrovascular complications.” The paper states that “recent studies suggested that active MGP helps maintaining the integrity of the renal and myocardial microcirculation, but its role in preserving the retinal microcirculation remains unknown.”

Studying a randomly recruited Flemish population, the researchers concluded that circulating inactive MGP (dp-ucMGP) is a long-term predictor of smaller retinal arteriolar diameter in the general population. “Our observations highlight the possibility that vitamin K supplementation might promote retinal health,” they stated.

“Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is the only compound to date shown to impact arterial calcification through its activation of MGP, which is why it is garnering attention from the medical community as a potential therapy,” says Christopher Speed, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing with NattoPharma, the world leaders in Vitamin K2 research and development. “Our branded Vitamin K2, MenaQ7, is the only K2 on the market clinically proven to impact cardiovascular health through its activation of MGP, and the only K2 patented for cardiovascular health.

“We at NattoPharma are optimistic that these developments have come to light,” Speed continues. “There are 17 K-dependent proteins in the body, and we have a strong understanding of a few, which contribute to blood clotting, bone health, and cardiovascular health. These findings shine a light on the importance of continuing our research to articulate the health benefits of activating additional proteins, and the impact that can have on the global population.”

References:
1 Cui C, Sekikawa A, Kuller LH, Lopez OL, Newman AB, Kuipers AL, Mackey RH. “Aortic stiffness is associated with increased risk of incident dementia in older adults.” J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2018;66(1):297-306.
2 Wei FF, Huang QF, Zhang ZY, Van Keer K, Thijs L, et al. “Inactive matrix gla protein is a novel circulating biomarker predicting retinal arteriolar narrowing in humans.” Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 10;8(1):15088.

Read More
Show less
2018

Int’l. K2 Symposium at Maastricht

“Vascular calcification: hard disease in heart. A rocky road towards diagnosis and intervention.”
Company Initiatives
|
25 October 2018

On Friday 12 October 2018, an international symposium was hosted at the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, where four presentations were given examining the role of arterial calcification and the impact of Vitamin K2. NattoPharma ASA and others sponsored the event.

“Over the last 12 years, NattoPharma has heavily invested in research that has undeniably demonstrated that Vitamin K2 results in stronger bones,” says Frode Bohan, Chairman of the Board with NattoPharma. “However, the most recent research has had the biggest impact: namely, the cardiovascular implications of Vitamin K2 as a mitigator of the disasterous role of arterial and soft tissue calcification.”

Observational and intervention studies have shown that populations who consume high concentrations of Vitamin K2 have more flexible arteries and stronger bones. Now, the evidence is mounting confirming that K2 can positively impact populations that are prone to calcification, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and those with existing coronary artery calcification (CAC) and arterial valve calcification (AVC).

“This clearly demonstrates NattoPharma’s ongoing commitment to promote science-based education,” Bohan continues.

The lectures at the symposium consisted of two basic and two clinical presentations:

• Prof. Dr. Cathy Shanahan, Professor of Cellular Signaling, Cardiovascular Division, King’s College London: “Are you as old as your arteries?”
• Prof. Dr. Willi Jahnen-Dechent, Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Biointerface Laboratory, RWTH Aachen University Medical Faculty: “Mud in the blood: protein-mineral complexes involved in mineralization and calcification”
• Prof. Dr. Marc Vervloet, Nephrologist, Department of Nephrology, Aumc Amsterdam: “A Clinical Perspective on Vascular Calcification in Kidney Disease”
• Prof. Dr. Bram Kroon, Internist – Vascular Medicine, MUMC + Maastricht: “Treatment Perspectives of
Vascular Calcifications in Cardiovascular Patients”

In addition to NattoPharma, other sponsors of the event were TGMontgomery, IDS, Omicron, Eqology, and Synergia.

After the symposium, Prof. Dr. Leon Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice Chair of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Biochemistry, University of Maastricht, gave his inaugural lecture “Vascular calcification: hard disease in the heart”.

Read More
Show less

K2 Deficiency & Kids’ Fracture Risk: New Paper

Examination of correcting K2 deficiency impact on children’s bone health published in prestigious international journal.
Science & studies
|
12 June 2018

A new pilot study[1] evaluating vitamin D and K status in children with and without low-energy fractures has published in Nutrients, an international, peer-reviewed journal for studies related to Human Nutrition.

The publication of this study, “Decreased Levels of Circulating Carboxylated Osteocalcin in Children with Low Energy Fractures: A Pilot Study,” is significant because it adds to the growing body of evidence that Vitamin K2 is a beneficial nutrient for both children and adults, according to NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.

“This trial reaffirms the real health benefits improving K2 status delivers,” says Vik. “More importantly, it shines a light on the true impact improving K2 status has on children, our most precious resource.”

According to Dr. Vladimir Badmaev, author of the paper and principal and founder of American Medical Holdings, Inc., “The epidemiological evidence indicates a disturbing growth in the number of cases of low-energy fractures in healthy children and adolescents. There are multiple risk factors that may contribute to this growing health concern, and among the leading consideration are deficient or insufficient nutrition and nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K.”

Dr. Badmaev explains that the particular role of vitamin K2, especially menaquinone-7 (MK-7), has been highlighted in the literature and distinguished from vitamin K1 in maintaining calcium homeostasis and healthy skeletal system. “The epidemiological and clinical research provides a new nutritional paradigm for efficient, safe delivery of calcium that requires co-supplementation with both vitamins D and K.”

The gravitas for this study, which was recently presented at The World Congress on Osteoprosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases, the world’s leading clinical conference on bone, joint, and muscle health, is increased by Nutrients, a leading European journal with a high impact factor (a measure of how often it is cited by other researchers), selecting it for publication.

“It cannot be overstated the importance of every possible opportunity to advance industry and academic understanding of this essential nutrient,” Vik concludes. “The findings are so very significant, as they provide supporting evidence to the clinical research NattoPharma has already spearheaded. Not only has our research identified children as a group most deficient in Vitamin K2, but that just 45mcg of K2 (as NattoPharma’s MenaQ7®) daily improves K status and increases the activation of osteocalcin, the K-dependent protein responsible for binding calcium to the bone mineral matrix, therefore improving bone health.”

Reference:
Popko J, Karpinski M, Chojnowska S, Maresz K, Milewski R, Badmaev V, Schurgers L. Decreased Levels of Circulating Carboxylated Osteocalcin in Children with Low Energy Fractures: A Pilot Study. Nutrients 2018, 10(6), 734. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10060734

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Spearheading K2 RDI Program

K2 Leader joins with leading researchers to establish basis of a much-needed K2 RDI.
Company Initiatives
|
31 May 2018

Global cardiovascular and bone health has been negatively impacted by widespread Vitamin K2 deficiency. Yet there is no established RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) for Vitamin K2. To that end, as the leader in Vitamin K2, NattoPharma has enlisted its powerful research partners to start a program to establish a much-needed RDI for Vitamin K2.

The program will begin with a team of researchers at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, the group that has led the way discovering and validating the health benefits of Vitamin K2, guided by Dr. Leon Schurgers, Professor of biochemistry of vascular calcification at Cardiovascular Research Institute at Maastricht University (CARIM). NattoPharma has worked closely with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of the company’s exclusive branded MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, since 2004 – work that has been recognized with many peer-reviewed scientific papers and with recently awarded research grants.

“The RDI for vitamin K is established based on coagulation factors only, but research continues to emerge that vitamin K and vitamin K-dependent proteins have physiological roles beyond coagulation,” says Dr. Schurgers, noting that the AI (Adequate Intake) for vitamin K was established at 90 μg/d for women and 120 μg/d for men for the US and Canada, and in Europe it is 1 μg/Kg/d. This was based on median phylloquinone (vitamin K1) intakes estimated from national surveys back in 2001. Next to vitamin K1 our food also provides us with vitamin K2. “More recent research has confirmed different bioavailability / activity between K1 and K2, and additional biological functions of K2 due to different side chains. Further, all epidemiological and interventional studies showed that only K2 was cardio-protective or has a beneficial effect on the arteries. This has not been considered in the forming of dietary recommendations.”

Dr. Schurgers’ team will be joined by the International Science and Health Foundation (ISHF), a research consortium responsible for the educational portal VitaminK2.org. According to Dr. Katarzyna Maresz, ISHF president, VitaminK2.org was specifically created to educate consumers and practitioners about the proven benefits of Vitamin K2, recognizing the impact of widespread K2 deficiency.

“We have seen in comprehensive studies – in adults as well as children – that correcting Vitamin K2 deficiency can greatly improve bone health, and studies in adults have delivered unprecedented improvement in cardiovascular health,” she says. “Yet studies also show that 97% of the Western population remains deficient. Establishing an RDI is an important step in educating the public about their absolute dietary need, providing them much-needed direction.”

According to Dr. Maresz, one of the first hurdles to overcome establishing an RDI is to have a biomarker or clinical endpoint that reflects the consequences of inadequate K2 consumption.

“Scientific knowledge has changed a lot recently, yet there is still a lack of suitable biomarkers or clinical endpoints that can be used to determine Vitamin K2 requirements among adults,” she explains, offering that inactive Matrix Gla Protein (dpucMGP) or the ratio of inactive to inactive Osteocalcin (ucOC/cOC) could be used as markers of vitamin K status. “Given that some vitamin K deficiency or insufficiency has been seen in 97% of older subjects in a mixed population as reflected by their measures of dpucMGP, this could be a good starting marker. However, the ‘normal’ range should be established. Further, K1 influences these markers, too, and we have to consider the metabolic events such the inter-conversion of phylloquinone to MK-4.”

Both NattoPharma and the researchers recognize the scope of this undertaking, but also that it is time to begin.

“Convincing the government to recognize how essential specific nutrients are is an arduous process,” says Eric Anderson, senior vice president of global marketing and business development with NattoPharma. “We have been working with Maastricht University for almost two decades validating the health benefits of Vitamin K2, creating this category. Our work, in addition to others’, is building that body of evidence. Now it is time to lead the way ensuring that a global recommendation exists so we can ensure Vitamin K2 is adequately attained for the betterment of the world population – men and women, adults and children.”

To that end, through the Horizon 2020 grants awarded in which the CARIM is the beneficiary, in partnership with NattoPharma, the company will host PhD students (ESRs) to teach them about the food and supplement industry and foster a further understanding of the RDI values set by FDA/EFSA. These ESRs will utilize this knowledge as they conduct a comprehensive literature review elucidating the data for K2’s bone and cardiovascular benefits. This cogent argument will work towards the efforts of petitioning for RDIs.

Read More
Show less

Int’l. Bone Conf. Discusses K2 Deficiency & Kids’ Fracture Risk

WCO-IOF-ESCEO poster presentation highlights implications of correcting vitamin K2 deficiency on children’s bone health.
Science & studies
|
08 May 2018

A poster presented at The World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases, the world’s leading clinical conference on bone, joint, and muscle health, detailed recent research showing that low vitamin K status correlated with increased fracture risk in children.

The scientific program, developed by the Committee of Scientific Advisors of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO), brought together the world’s best in the field of musculoskeletal health and disease from April 19-22, 2018 in Krakow, Poland. According to IOF and ESCEO, program’s intention is to “move the field forward on all fronts; from new understanding of bone metabolism and pathology, to new strategies and options in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”

The poster, “Roles of Vitamins D and K, Nutrition, and Lifestyle in Low-Energy Bone Fractures in Children and Young Adults”, was presented to this prestigious audience by authors Dr. Michael Karpinski from Medical School in Białystok and Dr. Katarzyna Maresz, president of the International Science and Health Foundation. According to Dr. Maresz, theirs was the only presentation that addressed the bone health benefits of Vitamin K.

“The main conclusion of our study was the tremendous impact Vitamin K has on bone health, in particular how Vitamin K2 deficiency seriously affects fracture risks of children,” says Dr. Maresz, whose group created VitaminK2.org. “While many presented studies on Vitamin D, ours was the only paper/poster that addressed both Vitamins K and D, two complementary nutrients for supporting bone health.

“Making these important nutrients part of the conversation with the medical community shows how the potential of future bone therapies could be positively impacted,” adds Maresz.

“The implications of Vitamin K2 being part of this important conference are immeasurable,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer at NattoPharma. “One of the main hurdles is that there is still no RDI established for Vitamin K2. Having K2 discussed at this conference from a bone-health perspective, while the medical community is also initiating studies to examine K2 as a potential cardiovascular therapy, shows we are making strides in overcoming that hurdle.

“It also cannot be overstated the importance of every possible opportunity to advance industry and academic understanding of this essential nutrient,” Vik concludes. “The findings presented by Drs Karpinski and Maresz are so very significant, as they provide supporting evidence to the clinical research NattoPharma has already spearheaded. Not only has our research identified children as a group most deficient in Vitamin K2, but that just 45mcg of K2 (as NattoPharma’s MenaQ7®) daily improves K status and increases the activation of osteocalcin, the K-dependent protein responsible for binding calcium to the bone mineral matrix, therefore improving bone health.”

Read More
Show less

K2 Content in Cheeses & Recommended Intakes: New Paper

New MenaQ7® Full Spectrum K2 is the closest ingredient to dietary cheese intake.
Science & studies
|
17 April 2018

NattoPharma is eager to announce that Nutrients has published a new paper[1], “Menaquinone Content of Cheese”, which examines the Vitamin K2 content of cheeses and other foods. Based on a global state of K2 deficiency and the strong evidence showing it is a cardio-protective nutrient, researchers recommend cheese as a component of a heart-healthy diet due to its Vitamin K2 content. But for those unable to consume enough cheese daily, NattoPharma has introduced its MenaQ7® Full Spectrum K2, which delivers the range of menaquinones found in foods.

The analysis was conducted by the expert researchers at VitaK, Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) concentrations were measured in a range of cheeses and the effects of fat content, ripening, and cheese origins were investigated. According to researchers: “It was found that cheese and curd are the most important sources of long-chain menaquinones in the Western diet. However, the actual menaquinone content varies substantially and is dependent on the type of cheese, the time of ripening, the fat content, and the geographic area where the cheeses are produced.”

The findings showed that the total amount of K2 in cheese was between 3 and 802 ng/g. To that end, the researchers’ recommendation for K2 is between 180-360mcg/day, which means one needs to eat at least 225/445g of French cheese a day (Münster) and at least two times more with cheese from Scandinavia.

In the past decade, increasing attention has been paid to the health benefits of the K2, notably the long-chain menaquinones MK-6 through MK-9. This research adds to important population-based studies[2-4] that have shown that food-derived vitamin K (such as from cheeses) improves long-term cardiovascular health outcomes because it more specifically delivers the spectrum of long-chain menaquinones.

“Interestingly, Vitamin K2 was first discovered in the fermented soy food called natto,” says Hogne Vik, Chief Medical Officer with NattoPharma. “However, in the early 2000s the researchers working with NattoPharma discovered that fermented cheese is also an excellent source of the menaquinones, ranging from menaquinones 5 through 10, while menaquinones 6, 7, and 9 are amongst the most bioactive.”

While fermented cheeses are the best dietary source of menaquinones in the West, most cannot consume enough daily to obtain optimal amounts of Vitamin K2, nor is cheese a practical source for extracting the menaquinones. To that end, NattoPharma has introduced MenaQ7® Full Spectrum K2, raw material unlike anything on the market that delivers the range of menaquinones found in foods.

The first and only Vitamin K2 to deliver a gamut of menaquinone isomers, MenaQ7® Full Spectrum is naturally fermented using chickpea protein, offering an all-trans K2 that is free from gluten, soy and all-known allergens, and is suitable for vegans. MenaQ7® Full Spectrum provides the vital menaquinone isomers for optimal K2 delivery with respect to absorption, half-life and biological activity.

“NattoPharma has once again created a raw material that speaks directly the natural dietary supplement consumer, who is drawn to comprehensive nutritional sources,” adds Eric Anderson, NattoPharma Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “No other material on the market offers such a comprehensive array of menaquinones specifically shown to support cardiovascular health. MenaQ7 Full Spectrum is the closest ingredient to actual food sources, delivering the range of menaquinones found in foods that support cardiovascular health.”

References:
1 Vermeer C, et al. Menaquinone Content of Cheese. Nutrients. Apri 4;10(4). Pii: E446 doi: 10.3390/nu10040446.
2 Geleijnse JM, et al. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study. J Nutr. 2004;134:3100-5.
3 Beulens JW, et al. High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Atherosclerosis. 2009;203:489-93.
4 Gast GC, et al. A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009;19:504-10.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® Aortic Calcification Human Study Protocol Publishes

Protocol shows Vitamin K2 treatment on imaging measurement of existing calcification.
Science & studies
|
04 April 2018

NattoPharma is excited to announce that Nutrients has published a new paper, “Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis and the Effect of Vitamin K2 on Calcification Using 18F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance: The BASIK2 Rationale and Trial Design”, which examines the benefits of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 for patients with existing calcification.

Being conducted by the expert researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center and CARIM, the double-blind placebo-controlled study will randomize subjects into intervention and control groups, receiving an oral dose of 360 micrograms (mcg) menaquinone-7 (MK-7) or placebo, respectively. The MK-7 is MenaQ7® (provided by NattoPharma ASA, Oslo, Norway) and the total study duration is 18 months with 44 participants who have bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and mild–moderate calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS).

According to Dr. Leon Schurgers, one of the paper’s authors: “18F-sodiumfluoride positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) assessments will be performed showing for the first time providing incremental information to the standard methods (echocardiography and CT) used to measure aortic valve stenosis and calcification. In essence, the progression or regression of micro-calcification should be clearly observable for the first time.”

“This is a breakthrough study for individuals with existing calcifications, and noteworthy as the traditional medical community is initiating a study in diseased patients,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer. “Previously published research in healthy populations show MenaQ7 can inhibit the progression of arterial stiffening, and even regress stiffening resulting in improved arterial flexibility. Now these researchers are looking to determine if vitamin K2 can regress calcification in patients with CAVS – while the only current treatment is valve replacement.”

BAV is associated with early development of CAVS and pathophysiologic mechanisms are incompletely defined. Numerous pharmaceutical therapies have been studied as potential intervention in the progression of CAVS, but have not yet presented successful treatment options. Therefore, the only treatment option currently available for severe CAVS is valve replacement.

“Recognizing that medical therapies are proving ineffective, researchers are shining a light on efficacious supplemental alternatives, which leads them to the clinical research that NattoPharma has spearheaded. Specifically, our three-year cardiovascular study in healthy postmenopausal women taking just 180 mcg daily of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7), which demonstrated a cessation and even regression in arterial stiffness.

“The relevance of our three-year study has resulted in several studies by the medical community for patients with existing coronary artery calcification, aortic valve calcification, and peripheral artery calcification,” adds Dr. Vik.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® 1-Year Cardio Study: Benefits in Men & Woman

New 1-year study completed showing MenaQ7® supplementation improved vascular health in both genders.
Science & studies
|
27 February 2018

A new one-year clinical trial has just been completed showing that a daily nutritional dose of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 improved vascular health in both male and female healthy participants. This study adds support to the substantial body of evidence confirming Vitamin K2 is a cardiovascular-support nutrient.

Completed by the expert researchers at VitaK, the placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial demonstrated the benefits of 180 µg/day of MK-7 (as MenaQ7® from NattoPharma) on vascular health and body composition in 243 healthy subjects (77 men and 166 women) with a poor vitamin K status, as measured by dp-ucMGP (inactive Matrix Gla Protein, a marker for cardiovascular health).

According to the researchers, “We enrolled participants with poor K status; however, in West most are K deficient as measured by activation of K-dependent proteins.”

In the total group, MK-7 decreased dp-ucMGP significantly compared to placebo after 1 year. The researchers conclude that 1-year supplementation of MK-7 tended to improve vascular health in men and women with a poor vitamin K status. The beneficial effect was more pronounced in post-menopausal women and in subjects with a high Stiffness Index.

“This study is extremely important because this is the second trial to demonstrate benefits of MenaQ7 for cardiovascular health. But where participants in our first study were healthy postmenopausal women, this is the first trial where the effects were examined in both men and women,” says Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer. “In this study, the participants taking MenaQ7 maintained arterial flexibility and the stiffness did not increase, whereas placebo group became stiffer and less flexible.

Vik continues, “These results mirror what we have seen in epidemiological studies, where populations who consume a lot of dietary Vitamin K2 have healthier hearts and more flexible arteries.”

Read More
Show less
2017

New Partnership & Launch in China

New exclusive MenaQ7® product introduced to 150 invited distributors.
Company Initiatives
|
28 November 2017

Nattopharma was honored to participate in a launching conference commemorating the first product introduced in China featuring MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7.

FishBurg, a leading Chinese dietary supplement producer with a strong position in the Calcium/Vitamin D3 (VD3) segment, signed a partnership and supply agreement with NattoPharma, world leaders in Vitamin K2 as MK-7 research and development, on November 28th in Guangzhou. During this event, FishBurg officially launched its new Blue Hat-registered Calcium/VD3/MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 supplement for bone health to the Chinese market.

The event was attended by 150 distributors from across China, who will promote the new FishBurg product via pharmacies and other Chinese dietary supplement channels. During the event, FishBurg, NattoPharma, and the Norwegian council made presentations that mark the start of this important partnership and entry into the Chinese market. The event culminated with the signing of a strategic partnership and supply agreement between FishBurg and NattoPharma, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The product launch is a clear indication of the commitment from both parties,” says Daniel Rosenbaum, NattoPharma CEO. “The event created excitement around MenaQ7 Vitamin K2, which has amazing market potential in China.”

NattoPharma’s Chinese distributor partner Prochin hosted the event. According to Jordan Yang, the commercial director of Prochin, distributors were excited to learn about MenaQ7® arrival in China.

“FishBurg is quite confident that the newly launched Calcium/VD3/MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 product will have a very impressive impact on the Chinese nutritional market, bringing the benefits of bone and cardiovascular health to all customers,” said by Youwen Chen, the CEO of FishBurg.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma & Ortho Molecular Products Exclusive Partnership

MenaQ7® PRO will only be available to the Practitioner Channel via Ortho Molecular Products
Company Initiatives
|
17 October 2017

Nattopharma is pleased to announce that it has been selected by Ortho Molecular Products, the leader in practitioner-specific nutraceuticals, as its exclusive Vitamin K2 supplier partner. The company will transition the seven products in its line currently featuring Vitamin K2 to MenaQ7® PRO, a unique line extension available only to Ortho Molecular.

For more than 25 years, Ortho Molecular Products has researched and manufactured high-quality, efficacious nutraceuticals sold exclusively to thousands of health care professionals nationwide and in Canada. With headquarters in Chicago, IL, the company has FDA-audited, cGMP-certified manufacturing facilities in Stevens Point, WI, where the company will work to transition the following products to include NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® PRO Vitamin K2:

• Vitamin K2 with D3
• Vitamin K2 180 mcg
• Liquid Vitamin D3 with K2
• K-FORCE
• Pro Bono
• Alpha Base Capsules without Iron
• Alpha Base Capsules with Iron

“We are proud of our 25-year tradition of successfully combining evidence-based formulations and superior raw ingredients to develop efficacious supplements that noticeably enhance patient health,” says Aaron Bartz, President of Ortho Molecular Products, adding that MenaQ7® was chosen based on the significant data confirming its ability to help the body properly utilize calcium, supporting bone health while simultaneously protecting cardiovascular health. “This partnership with NattoPharma reinforces that commitment, allowing us to provide the practitioner community with the best quality, clinically validated Vitamin K2 as MK-7 available.”

“Ortho Molecular Products’ commitment to efficacy, uncompromising manufacturing and legendary customer service has established the company as a leader in the nutrition industry,” says Dan Rosenbaum, NattoPharma CEO. “NattoPharma is honored that this discerning brand recognizes that we are the leader in Vitamin K2 research and development, and that our MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 will allow their practitioner partners to deliver the best possible results for their patients.

“We believe we earned the attention of Ortho Molecular Products – and ultimately were selected as a partner – because NattoPharma has been driving the scientific discovery behind the benefits of Vitamin K2,” adds Rosenbaum. “We could not be happier to have Ortho Molecular Products, with its demonstrated years of excellence providing only the best ingredients available, join the NattoPharma family. And we were excited to make available a line extension with MenaQ7 PRO that would speak clearly to the practitioner market.”

The reformulated Ortho Molecular Products will be available in 2018.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® Full Spectrum K2 to Launch at SSW

NattoPharma Introducing the first and only full-spectrum Vitamin K2 that provides MK-6, 7, 8 & 9
Company Initiatives
|
21 September 2017

NattoPharma further strengthens its reputation as the most comprehensive Vitamin K2 supplier by introducing a breakthrough unlike anything on the market: MenaQ7® Full Spectrum K2. This latest innovation is the result of a proprietary technological breakthrough, creating a Vitamin K2 that provides menaquinones (MK) 6, 7, 8 and 9, a range of isomers vital for cardiovascular health.

“NattoPharma has driven the creation of the Vitamin K2 market, sponsoring the important research validating the importance of K2 for human health, and this work has shaped the MenaQ7 brand,” says NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik. “The important epidemiological studies that led us to our ground-breaking human clinical research used fermented cheese as the source of Vitamin K2, which led us to create MenaQ7 Full Spectrum.”

According to researchers closely linked to these epidemiological studies1-3: “Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays and unequivocal role in the activation of Gla-proteins. Although all K-vitamins have the same function, they differ in bioavailability and bioactivity.

“The Rotterdam and Prospect studies have shown that food-derived vitamin K (such as from cheeses) improves long-term cardiovascular health outcomes because it more specifically delivers the long-chain menaquinones MK-6, 7, 8 and 9.”

“While fermented cheeses are the best dietary source of menaquinones in the West, most will not be able to consume enough to obtain optimal amounts of Vitamin K2, nor is cheese a practical source for extracting the menaquinones,” adds Dr. Vik. “To that end, NattoPharma has once again broken the mold and offers to the market a raw material that delivers the range of menaquinones found in foods.”

The first and only Vitamin K2 to deliver to deliver a gamut of menaquinone isomers, MenaQ7® Full Spectrum is naturally fermented using chickpea protein, offering an all-trans Vitamin K2 that is free from gluten, soy and all-known allergens, and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. MenaQ7® Full Spectrum provides the vital menaquinone isomers MK-6, 7, 8 and 9 for optimal and maximal delivery of vitamin K2 with respect to absorption, half-life and biological activity.

“NattoPharma has once again created a raw material that speaks directly the natural dietary supplement consumer, who is drawn to comprehensive nutritional sources,” says Daniel Rosenbaum, NattoPharma CEO. “We welcome the opportunity to meet with companies at this year’s SupplySide West to officially launch this market-changing innovation.”

MenaQ7® Full Spectrum Vitamin K2 will be centerpiece of NattoPharma’s SupplySide West booth P115.

Read More
Show less

K2 & D for Children’s Bone Health: New Review

Evidence shows correcting deficiencies, specifically Vitamin K2, leads to stronger skeletal systems.
Science & studies
|
07 September 2017

The Journal of the American College of Nutrition has published an important review paper that highlights the impact correcting nutritional insufficiencies, most importantly Vitamin K2 in combination with vitamin D and calcium, leading to a significantly less incidence of low-energy bone fractures in children and young adults.

According to Dr. Vladimir Badmaev, author of the paper and principal and founder of American Medical Holdings, Inc., “The epidemiological evidence indicates a disturbing growth in the number of cases of low-energy fractures in healthy children and adolescents. There are multiple risk factors that may contribute to this growing health concern, and deficient or insufficient nutrition and nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K are among leading considerations.”

Dr. Badmaev led an international research consortium with representatives in the United States and Poland to review the expansive body of research (epidemiological and human clinical) that shows environmental and nutritional factors that contribute to children’s bone health, the mechanisms and biological roles by which nutrients contribute to bone health in children and young adults, and the status of nutrient insufficiency and deficiency of these nutrients.

Badmaev explains that the the particular role of vitamin K2, especially menaquinone-7 (MK-7), has been highlighted in the literature recently and distinguished from vitamin K1 in maintaining calcium homeostasis and healthy skeletal system. “The epidemiological and clinical research provides a new nutritional paradigm for efficient and safe delivery of calcium that requires co-supplementation with both fat-soluble vitamins D and K.”

“This review is so very significant, providing supporting evidence to the clinical research NattoPharma has already spearheaded,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma ASA, world leaders in vitamin K2 reseaerch and development. “Not only has our research identified children as a group most deficient in Vitamin K2, but that just 45mcg of K2 (as NattoPharma’s MenaQ7®) daily improves K status and increases the activation of osteocalcin, the K-dependent protein responsible for binding calcium to the bone mineral matrix, therefore improving bone health.”

Badmaev concludes, “The new proposed nutritional regimen may not only prevent low-energy fractures among children and young adults, but will also contribute to building the ‘bone bank’, therefore helping to prevent development of osteoporosis later in life and prevent untoward cardiovascular risk.”

Reference:
Karpinski M, Popko J, Maresz K, Badmaev V, Stohs SJ. Roles of Vitamins D and K, Nutrition, and Lifestyle in Low-Energy Bone Fractures in Children and Young Adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 017 Jul;36(5):399-4012. Doi: 10.1080/07315724.2017.1307791.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® Shown Again to Inhibit Arterial Hardening: New Study

Clinical single-arm trial with renal transplant recipients shows improved arterial stiffness.
Science & studies
|
16 August 2017

A new study[1] of renal transplant recipients, a group shown to express subclinical vitamin K deficiency, examined whether K2 supplementation would correct this deficiency and thus improve arterial stiffness. The study has published in Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, and the vitamin K2 used in the study was MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 from NattoPharma.

This Lebanese study evaluated in the KING trial (a single-arm pilot study) to see if there is an association between vitamin K2 supplementation and the change in both subclinical vitamin K status and indices of arterial stiffness among 60 renal transplant recipients with stable graft function. The results showed that 8 weeks of MK-7 supplementation (360 mcg/day as MenaQ7®) was associated with significant improvement in arterial stiffness and 24-hour peripheral and central pressures. The mean reduction in cfPWV was 1.4 m/s, which was well beyond the reduction of 1 m/s recommended for a clinically relevant vascular effect.

“While our previous cardiovascular study in healthy postmenopausal women showed an improvement in arterial elasticity after 3 years of supplementation, the results collected in this trial are staggering, especially as the statistically significant effect was seen very quickly,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer of NattoPharma. “After just 8 weeks of MK-7 supplementation, low vitamin K status represented by dpucMGP level was significantly reduced by 55.1%. Moreover, supplementation was associated with a 14.2% reduction in mean cfPWV.

“One can assume that longer MK-7 supplementation may lead to even better results, and secure improvement in cardiovascular outcomes in renal transplant patients.”

According to the researchers, prior observational studies have shown the prevalence of subclinical vitamin K deficiency has been reported to be as high as 80% in the renal transplant population. Moreover, in kidney transplant recipients, Vitamin K insufficiency, expressed as a high circulating level of dp-ucMGP (dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein, or “inactive” MGP, a K-dependent protein), is associated independently with increased risk of mortality. However, any studies to date have not addressed whether vitamin K supplementation may lead to improved outcomes after kidney transplantation.

In addition, MK-7 supplementation improved vitamin K status, which was represented by the reduction in dp-ucMGP concentrations. A positive correlation was present between the reduction in arterial stiffness, a surrogate of early cardiovascular disease, and the circulating concentration of dp-ucMGP, a marker of subclinical vascular vitamin K deficiency and calcification.

The main conclusion was that, among renal transplant recipients with stable graft function, vitamin K2 supplementation was associated with improvement in subclinical K deficiency and arterial stiffness. According to the researchers, the findings from this trial support the hypothesis that subclinical vitamin K deficiency may be a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and may improve with MK-7 supplementation.

“NattoPharma was excited to participate in this clinical trial,” adds Dr. Vik. “We have dedicated ourselves to cultivating an understanding of the benefits Vitamin K2 offers to human health, and in that work have recognized that vitamin K2 deficiency can have serious implications on arterial health. This study adds to the body of evidence confirming the cardiovascular support MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 provides, and continues to solidify the hope this important nutrient offers the global population.”

Reference:
1 Mansour AG et al. Vitamin K2 supplementation and arterial stiffness among renal transplant recipients – a single-arm, single-center clinical trial. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2017 Jul 13. Pii: S1933-1711(17)30255-3.

Read More
Show less

New MenaQ7® K2 Study Publishes

Clinical intervention trial with hemodialysis patients shows positive, safe response.
Science & studies
|
22 June 2017

A new study[1] of hemodialysis patients examined the risk factors and response to Vitamin K2 supplementation, and confirmed this population’s specific need to correct Vitamin K2 deficiency. The study published in BMC Nephrology, and the vitamin K2 used in the study was MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 from NattoPharma.

According to the researchers, the scientific data showed that the vitamin K2 intake in hemodialysis patients is estimated to be 40 percent lower than in the healthy individual group. It has been accepted by the European medical society that hemodialysis patients are vitamin K deficient, and they can benefit from vitamin K2 supplementation. However, this aspect had not yet been evaluated in Eastern Mediterranean populations.

“NattoPharma was excited to participate in this clinical intervention trial,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer of NattoPharma. “We have long recognized the important implications correcting a vitamin K2 deficiency can have on human health, particularly in patient populations who suffer intense vascular calcification as a result of their condition. This study adds to the body of evidence confirming the cardiovascular support MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 provides, and continues to solidify NattoPharma as the global leader in K2 research and development.”

The study, based in Lebanon, assessed if there is a correlation between vitamin K status and vascular calcification score in hemodialysis patients, and if K2 supplementation would improve extra-hepatic vitamin K status in this Eastern Mediterranean populations.

Fifty hemodialysis patients were enrolled in this clinical study, and received daily 360 μg of menaquinone-7 (MenaQ7®) for 4 weeks. Extrahepatic vitamin K status represented as the level of dpucMGP (dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein, or “inactive” MGP, a K-dependent protein) and vascular calcification scores (AC-24) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the vitamin K2 treatment.

The main conclusion was that hemodialysis patients have profound vitamin K deficiency as assessed by high dp-ucMGP plasma levels. High dpucMGP level was significantly correlated with high aortic calcification scores and thus can be used as a non-invasive marker for vascular calcifications.

According to the researchers, “The daily administration of 360 μg of vitamin K2 (MK-7) decreased dpucMGP by 86 percent after 4 weeks and it was well tolerated. Further studies should be conducted to assess the change in vascular calcifications after an extended duration of therapy.”

Reference:
Aoun M et al. High Dephosphorylated-Uncarboxylated MGP in Hemodialysis patients: risk factors and response to vitamin K2, a pre-post intervention clinical trial. BMC Nephrol. 2017 Jun 7;18(1):191. doi: 10.1186/s12882-017-0609-3.

Read More
Show less

New Brazil Partnership Expands MenaQ7® Presence

NattoPharma signs agreement with outstanding Brazilian brand Nutriangels
Company Initiatives
|
14 June 2017

NattoPharma is excited to announce a new partnership with Nutriangels, a pioneering nutraceutical brand with highly innovative products that include chelated minerals, further expanding the presence of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 in Brazil.

“Brazil is a burgeoning market where NattoPharma already enjoys an established presence. Nutriangels is one of the new pioneering supplement brands serving Brazil and we are thrilled to see this new customer expand our MenaQ7 offering with consumer-targeted, science-based products,” says Eric Anderson, senior vice president of global sales and marketing with NattoPharma.

Nutriangels launched K2 + featuring MenaQ7® in Q2 2017 and has already been well received. Because of NattoPharma’s extensive clinical substantiation and awarded patents, K2 + is positioned to support both bone and cardiovascular health.

“This milestone marks a welcome increase in awareness of the importance of Vitamin K2 for human health, and the global recognition that MenaQ7® is the clinically validated branded Vitamin K2 as MK-7 of choice,” adds Anderson.

Read More
Show less

Exciting New Product Launch in Brazil

MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 selected by Biolab Farmacêutica, one of Brazil’s largest pharmaceutical cos.
Company Initiatives
|
06 June 2017

NattoPharma welcomed the opportunity to support the launch of a new product featuring MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, Doiska MenaQ7, for an audience of more than 600 cardiologists in São Paulo, Brazil. “Dois” is “Two” in Portugese, and “ka” signifies “K”.

Biolab Farmacêutica is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Brazil, and the No. 1 pharmaceutical company for cardiology prescriptions. More than 600 cardiologists attended the event hosted by Biolab, and NattoPharma, world leaders in Vitamin K2 research and development, had representatives on hand to explain the substantial body of science supporting MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7, specifically the cardiovascular benefits.

“It was our pleasure to participate in the Brazilian launch of Doiska MenaQ7, and a privilege to present our clinical substantiation to more than 600 engaged cardiologists in São Paulo,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer, who presented alongside respected cardiologist Prof. Dr. Francisco Fonseca.

According to Flavio Zemella, Biolab Marketing Director, the symposium was very successful and physicians are excited about Doiska MenaQ7® arrival in the pharmacies, expected by beginning of August this year. “We are confident the partnership between NattoPharma and Biolab will be very fruitful as we foresee the product will benefit thousands of Brazilians across the country.”

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Launches MenaQ7® Natto MK-7

NattoPharma is the only comprehensive supplier of soy, soy-free, and nature-identical synthetic Vitamin K2
Company Initiatives
|
02 May 2017

NattoPharma strengthens its reputation as the most comprehensive supplier, producer, and validator of Vitamin K2 as MK-7, going back to its roots by expanding its MenaQ7® line with the introduction of MenaQ7® Natto, Vitamin K2 as MK-7 derived by Bacillus subtilis fermentation and soy protein. MenaQ7® Natto provides all-trans isomers of K2 in a range of concentrations, including and up to 96% active MK-7, or 960,000 ppm concentration.

“NattoPharma has driven the creation of the Vitamin K2 market, sponsoring the important research validating the importance of K2 for human health, and this work has shaped the MenaQ7 brand,” says NattoPharma CEO Dan Rosenbaum. “More recently there has been a renewed interest in Vitamin K2 based on the publication of our breakthrough 3-year cardiovascular trial and ongoing clinical studies with patients.

“In addition, NattoPharma has pioneered the manufacturing and purification standards to ensure we are delivering the active molecule, void of impurities, and validated by experts so consumers using products containing MenaQ7 are receiving the desired effect,” Rosenbaum adds. “Our new Natto-derived material is a further extension of that expertise and commitment to delivering quality products that meet marketing needs.”

MenaQ7® Natto is the result of Bacillus subtilis fermentation with a soy protein substrate providing MK-7 and a small amount of MK-6. Importantly, fermentation provides only active trans isomers of the menaquinones, the active form of K2. Other products contain inactive CIS isomers, which can be considered contaminants. This new variety joins the industry leading MenaQ7® Natural (formerly known as Crystals), NattoPharma’s natural material derived from fermented chickpeas, and its award-winning nature-identical synthetic MenaQ7® PharmaPURE (formerly known as PURE).

“Research has shown the most important factor for human health is improved Vitamin K2 status, contributing to unparalleled bone and cardiovascular support. Populations like those in Japan, the Netherlands, and France, obtain a great deal of Vitamin K2 from their diets, but that is hard to achieve for most Western populations. This makes supplementation a viable alternative,” says NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Hogne Vik.

“NattoPharma was founded on soy-based material, yet continued to innovate its offering based on market demand; namely, there was a growing concern over soy as an allergen,” adds Vik. “But now, as a global supplier, NattoPharma has received overwhelming interest from companies looking to offer a soy Vitamin K2 as MK-7. Our response is a new variety on par with the same soy material we introduced to the market in 2004.”

For more information, please visit http://menaq7.com/why-menaq7/varieties/.

Read More
Show less

Norwegian Research Council Grant

New grant will fund substantiating MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 effect on calcium metabolism
Patents & Grants
|
18 April 2017

The Norwegian Research Council has awarded a grant to NattoPharma to fund a 4-year project to document the effects of calcium metabolism in the body based on the presence or absence of Vitamin K2, MK7. The project will utilize NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 and the research part will be conducted at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands in the Department of Biochemistry under the guidance of Dr. Leon Schurgers, Senior Scientist and Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Maastricht and CARIM, the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Maastricht.

In this research, Nattopharma together with the Maastricht University will study the utilisation of calcium in preclinical models for postmenopausal bone loss and chronic kidney failure to determine how supplemental calcium is metabolized in the presence or absence of supplemental vitamin K2, MK7.

“This study will help to provide further evidence that calcium without adequate Vitamin K2 consumption might end up in the soft tissues where it is not wanted, rather than in the bone matrix, where it is needed,” says Dr. Schurgers. In a recent study by “Bolland et al. it was shown that calcium supplementation of postmenopausal women was associated a beneficial effect on bone, but also with increased myocardial infarction, suggesting detrimental effects on the vascular system possibly by increased vascular calcification. As calcium supplementation is needed for bone, the precipitation in the vessel wall needs to be inhibited.”

NattoPharma is rightfully excited about this new study, which should add to the evidence confirming Vitamin K2’s role as a cardiovascular supporter, including the ground-breaking three-year interventional study[1] the company sponsored that confirmed adding 180mcg of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 to one’s daily intake improves arterial health and flexibility.

“This will be the first study that demonstrates K2’s impact on calcium metabolism in vivo; however, we have shown in human studies with healthy participants that the progression of hardening of the arteries can be halted and even regressed,” adds Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer. “Calcium supplement manufacturers must recognize the importance of pairing calcium with Vitamin K2. They cannot ignore the growing body of evidence that K2 is required for the body to properly metabolize and utilize calcium.”

Reference:
1 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. doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Research Network Receives 4M€ Research Grant

Second EU grant will fund substantiating MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 on microcalcification.
Patents & Grants
|
21 March 2017

NattoPharma’s International Research Network, coordinated by the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Maastricht University (CARIM), has been awarded a second prestigious grant funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie research and innovation program. Beneficiary partners of the network are three highly ranked research university departments in Europe (CARIM/MUMC+ Maastricht; Universitätsklinikum Aachen and Karolinska Institutet Stockholm. The 4M€ grant, INTRICARE (International Network for Training on Risks of vascular intimal Calcification And roads to Regression of cardiovascular disease), is coordinated by University of Maastricht CARIM, MUMC+, and will train 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) focusing on vascular smooth muscle cell mediated microcalcification and the effect of vitamin K to hold or regress this process.

“INTRICARE is a European joint doctorate (EJD) program shaped to address the urgent, unmet medical needs concerning vulnerable plaques,” says lead researcher Leon Schurgers at CARIM, Maastricht University, and the main contact between NattoPharma and the University. “It is guided by the academic and industrial demand for a new generation of entrepreneurial scientists, who have the skills, expertise and know-how to expedite our understanding of early atherosclerosis and translation thereof into concrete clinical interventions for prevention and therapy.”

INTRICARE is an interdisciplinary and international consortium involving four leading academic institutions (CARIM/MUMC+ Maastricht; Universitätsklinikum Aachen; Karolinska Institutet Stockholm and King’s College London) and 9 SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises), including NattoPharma. The grant will fund 15 ESRs, who will engage in network-wide training events, public engagement activities, and international collaboration through secondments, at industrial or academic partner institutions within the EU. Six ESR’s will be hosted by CARIM, supervised by Leon Schurgers, Tilman Hackeng, Rory Koenen, Eline Kooi, Erik Biessen, and Thomas Unger. The INTRICARE network will be coordinated by Leon Schurgers, Tilman Hackeng, and Thomas Unger.

“Organized around three pillars – initiation of atherogenesis, vascular remodelling associated microcalcification, and imaging of microcalcification and vulnerable plaque formation – the consortium will join forces to address the aforementioned needs through training and research,” Dr. Schurgers continues.

Since 2004, NattoPharma has worked closely with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of menaquinone-7, the company’s exclusive vitamin K2 branded as MenaQ7®. This grant will provide training in innovative therapeutic strategies that include MenaQ7, identifying selective targets for microvascular calcification, and its consequences for plaque stability, and provide subsequent strategies for prevention or amelioration of vulnerable plaque formation.

“Horizon 2020 grants are the European equivalent to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant here in the United States,” says NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Hogne Vik, adding that NattoPharma’s first priority has always been the documentation of MenaQ7’s biological effects on bone and vasculature.”

“The assignment of this grant is an honor that further validates the importance of the work we have been doing with Maastricht University, and shines a light on the impact vitamin K2 can have on improving global health. We could not be more thrilled to have a third grant awarded to our partner for further study of MenaQ7.”

Read More
Show less

New MenaQ7®/Omega-3 Product By Wiley’s Finest

Wiley’s Finest™ Introduces High Potency Wild Alaskan EPA/ DHA featuring MenaQ7® K2 for Adults
Company Initiatives
|
14 March 2017

Nattopharma is excited to announce its visionary partner, Ohio-based Wiley’s Finest™ Wild Alaskan Fish Oil, is preparing to launch its Adult EPA and DHA Omega-3 formula featuring MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. The Adult formula is the second product from Wiley’s Finest featuring MenaQ7®.

The new product combines both 500mg of concentrated EPA and DHA Omega-3 from Alaska Pollock Fish Oil with a meaningful dosage of MenaQ7® K2 per serving (80mcg). Wiley’s opted for this dose after reviewing studies that showed MenaQ7® K2 delivered positive health benefits at just 45mcg per day.

“Playing off the fact that Vitamin K2 is both a key nutrient in this formula and the name of the second highest mountain on earth, we decided to launch this product with the campaign theme of ‘Climb the Peak of Health’. We felt it would be a fun and inspirational way to engage our valued customers and encourage them to rise to the heights of good health,” explains Wiley’s Finest™ CEO Sam Wiley.

Wiley’s Finest™ Adult EPA and DHA Omega-3 formula featuring MenaQ7® is the second Wiley’s product including NattoPharma’s clinically validated Vitamin K2 as MK-7. At last year’s Natural Products Expo West Wiley’s launched its award-winning kids liquid formula called Beginner’s DHA. In addition to being the first commercially available formula of its type for children in the natural foods channel, it was recently cited as one of the top five nutrition trends by NUTRA-ingredients at Expo West 2016.

Both the child and adult formulas are designed to support bone and cardiovascular health.

The new formula is Contents Tested and Certified by NSF International; this continues Wiley’s Finest’s commitment to exceptional quality as the only full line of Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements that are NSF certified. NSF certification ensures that products meet the dose claimed on their label and are safe from environmental contaminants. Furthermore, each Fish Oil supplement is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council to prove that the wild fish source is sustainably and responsibly caught.

“Wiley’s insistance on using MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, the clinically validated and patented K2, reiterates their commitment to quality,” says Eric Anderson, senior vice president of global sales and marketing with NattoPharma, the leader in vitamin K2 research and development. “By including MenaQ7® K2 again in their latest product offering, we applaud Wiley’s Finest™ for acknowledging that Vitamin K2 deficiency affects the majority of Western populations. Clinical studies show that Vitamin K2 is an under-consumed nutrient that is very difficult to obtain from diet alone. Wiley’s Finest products offer an important combination with supplemental EPA and DHA Omega-3 to support heart and circulatory health, while delivering bone support simultaneously, for young and now old.”

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Named Partner for Horizon 2020 EU Research Grant

Will fund further MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 Substantiation
Patents & Grants
|
07 February 2017

NattoPharma’s International Research Network, coordinated by Queen Mary University of London, has been awarded with a highly competitive ITN research grant from European Commission’s research program Horizon 2020. Other partners of the network are four highly ranked research university departments in Europe [University of Maastricht, University College Dublin (part of the national University of Ireland), Ludvig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm] and the independent life science medical research charity in the UK, the Medical Research Council Technology. The grant NattoPharma participates in is called “EVOLuTION” (European Vascular Interventions and Therapeutic Innovation Network), and the money will be utilized to provide training for 11 early stage researchers (ESRs) in the management of chronic diseases in the field of cardiovascular disease.

Since 2004, NattoPharma has worked closely with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of menaquinone-7, the company’s exclusive vitamin K2 branded as MenaQ7®. This grant will provide training in innovative therapeutic strategies that include MenaQ7, integrating early detection and prevention, to yield novel approaches to the management of chronic vascular and metabolic diseases that affect the increasing aging population of Western societies.

“The Horizon 2020 research grant is one of the most prestigious grants in Europe. The successful grant assignment and the opportunity to allocate highly qualified researchers to further work on vitamin K research is a great recognition of the vitamin K2 platform by this collaboration so far,” says Associate professor Leon Schurgers at CARIM, Maastricht University, and the main contact between NattoPharma, the University, and Horizon 2020. “I have great expectations for potential new and exciting observations that will arise from our mutual efforts – identifying even more positive health benefits of menaquinone-7.”

This grant is awarded in addition to 2.9M Euro that the EVOluTION consortium received in 2015. That application received the highest possible score and is funding two full-time researchers for three years, focusing on characterization and documentation of new biological aspects and effects of menaquinone-7 (as MenaQ7).

“The assignment of this Horizon 2020 grant is an honor that further validates the importance of the work we have been doing with Maastricht University, and shines a light on the impact vitamin K2 can have on improving global health,” says NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Hogne Vik, adding that NattoPharma’s first priority has always been the documentation of MenaQ7’s biological effects. “The beneficial effects of MenaQ7 on bone and vasculature is what has driven our marketing efforts. Through EVOluTION, NattoPharma will now have access to two full-time PhD-candidates that will be focused on exploring on existing and potential new mechanisms for biological effects and health benefits for menaquinone-7. This is a great opportunity for NattoPharma, and we are eager to see how the expected future achievements from this research collaboration and explorations of MenaQ7 in Maastricht and other scientific environments will enable NattoPharma to strengthen our scientific position with regards to chronic vascular and metabolic diseases. We are further eager to secure more biological data that can open up novel user indications, as well as extending our patent portfolio.”

Read More
Show less

Two Studies Link K Status to Arterial Calcification & Stiffness

Inactive Vitamin K-dependent protein MGP identified in cardiovascular stiffness with diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease patients. Experts recommend supplements.
Science & studies
|
05 January 2017

Nephron¸ a kidney research and clinical journal, and the American Journal of Hypertension have each just published new papers linking the vitamin K-dependent protein MGP (matrix GLA-protein) to vascular calcification, vascular and arterial stiffness. The two studies, “Correlations of Plasma Desphosphorylated Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein with Vascular Calcification and Vascular Stiffness in Chronic Kidney Disease,” and “Inactive Matrix Gla-Protein and Arterial Stiffness in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,” respectively, have linked increased risk of arterial calcification and stiffness to a lack of the active protein. One set of authors even recommended supplementation of vitamin K as a potential treatment.

“The mechanism of MGP inhibiting arterial calcification has been clearly established in cellular, animal and now human studies,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world pioneer in vitamin K2 product development. “In fact, adequate vitamin K is required to activate MGP. It is widely recognized that vitamin K2 as Menaquinone-7 is the most bioavailable and bioactive form of vitamin K available as a supplement today.”

Vik continued, “These new clinical investigations have documented correlations between arterial calcification and high amounts of inactive MGP – both in diabetic patients and in patients with CKD. The good news is that Vitamin K2 – our MenaQ7® brand MK-7 ingredient – is demonstrated to reduce the levels of ‘inactive’ dp-uc-MGP, and that MenaQ7 is documented to reduce arterial stiffness in healthy individuals as well as in kidney patients.”

The Nephron trial[2] was a cross-sectional study which enrolled 83 CKD stages 3–5 patients. Vascular calcification scores were determined by measuring calcific lesions in the abdominal aorta, vascular stiffness was assessed using a cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and pulse wave velocity, while plasma dpucMGP, or inactive MGP, levels were measured using an ELISA method. The study selected factors that were independently associated with vascular calcification and vascular stiffness.

The authors concluded the inactive MGP levels in blood plasma increase according to the severity of chronic kidney disease. Also, inactive MGP levels were positively associated with increased vascular calcification and might be utilized as an early marker for vascular calcification in CKD patients.

The American Journal of Hypertension trail[1] sought to identify pathways related to arterial stiffness to provide novel therapeutic targets to help reduce arterial stiffness in diabetes patients as large artery stiffness is increased in diabetes which increases the burden to the heart and microvasculature. Looking at a group of 66 diabetes type 2 patients, pulse wave velocity (PWV) was used as a measure of stiffness, and inactive or dp-ucMGP was measured by the vitamin K experts at VitaK, the Netherlands.

The authors concluded that inactive MGP was independently associated with pulse wave velocity in these diabetes patients. The authors noted: “This suggests that deficient vitamin K-dependent activation of MGP may lead to large artery stiffening and could be targeted with vitamin K supplementation in the patients with diabetes.”
“NattoPharma recognizes and is appreciative of the growing body of evidence definitively linking vitamin K status and active vitamin K-dependent proteins to health outcomes,” notes Dr. Vik. “NattoPharma is the world-wide pioneer in developing and providing MenaQ7 products as dietary supplements, and the recent publications are increasing the recognition of intake of vitamin K2 as a pathway to better health outcomes. Our three-year interventional study confirmed that adding vitamin K2 to one’s daily diet improves arterial health and flexibility.”

References:
1 Mayank Sardana, Izzah Vasim, Swapna Varakantam, Uzma Kewan, Ali Tariq, Maheshwara R. Koppula, Amer Ahmed Syed, Melissa Beraun, Nadja E.A. Drummen, Cees Vermeer, Scott R. Akers, and Julio A. Chirinos Inactive Matrix Gla-Protein and Arterial Stiffness in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Am J Hypertens 2016 : hpw146v1-hpw146 http://ajh.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/12/06/ajh.hpw146.abstract

2 Thamratnopkoon S.a · Susantitaphong P.a · Tumkosit M.b · Katavetin P.a · Tiranathanagul K.a · Praditpornsilpa K.a · Eiam-Ong S.a. Correlations of Plasma Desphosphorylated Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein with Vascular Calcification and Vascular Stiffness in Chronic Kidney Disease. Nephron. 2016 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print] DOI: 10.1159/000453368 https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/453368

Read More
Show less
2016

K2 Deficiency as Dangerous as Smoking: New Study

Low K2 intake correlates with cardiovascular disease mortality before age 65 in 168 countries.
Science & studies
|
11 October 2016

Cureus has published a new study[1] that explores the extent that vitamin K2 deficiency is tied to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The results showed that Vitamin K2 was inversely correlated with early CVD mortality to the same degree that tobacco use was positively correlated.

“Animal trials and human observational studies have demonstrated that Vitamin K2 deficiency (mainly the long-chain menaquinones, like MK-7) – whether it be dietary or K inhibition caused by warfarin – contributes to CVD by stiffening and calcifying coronary arteries and other vessels,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leader in vitamin K2 R&D and exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. “Nutrition researchers recently recognized that Vitamin K2 deficiency is widespread and contributes to CVD. The recent study, where multiple regression analysis of female and male cohort data worldwide (168 countries) have been used to relate early death from CVD with major CVD risk factors, has once more confirmed the importance of regular intake of vitamin K2 to secure a healthy CV system.”

For this trial, entitled “Cardiovascular Disease Death Before Age 65 in 168 Countries Correlated Statistically with Biometrics, Socioeconomic Status, Tobacco, Gender, Exercise, Macronutrients, and Vitamin K,” researchers, using publicly available sources, collected food commodity availability data and derived nutrient profiles including vitamin K2 for people from 168 countries. They also collected female and male cohort data on early death from CVD (ages 15-64 years), insufficient physical activity, tobacco, biometric CVD risk markers, socioeconomic risk factors for CVD, and gender. The outcome measures included (1) univariate correlations of early death from CVD with each risk factor, (2) a multiple regression-derived formula relating early death from CVD (dependent variable) to macronutrient profile, vitamin K1 and K2 and other risk factors (independent variables), (3) for each risk factor appearing in the multiple regression formula, the portion of CVD risk attributable to that factor, and (4) similar univariate and multivariate analyses of body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS) (simulated from diabetes prevalence), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and cholesterol/ HDLC ratio (simulated from serum cholesterol) (dependent variables) and dietary and other risk factors (independent variables).

Results showed that female and male cohorts in countries that have vitamin K2 < 5μg per 2000 kcal/day per capita (n = 70) had about 2.2 times the rate of early CVD deaths as people in countries with > 24 μg/day of vitamin K2 per 2000 kcal/day (n = 72). A multiple regression-derived formula relating early death from CVD to dietary nutrients and other risk factors accounted for about 50% of the variance between cohorts in early CVD death. The attributable risks of the variables in the CVD early death formula were: too much alcohol (0.38%), too little vitamin K2 (6.95%), tobacco (6.87%), high blood pressure (9.01%), air pollution (9.15%), early childhood death (3.64%), poverty (7.66%), and male gender (6.13%).

The authors concluded that worldwide dietary vitamin K2 data derived from food commodities add much understanding to the analysis of CVD risk factors and the etiology of CVD. Vitamin K2 in food products should be systematically quantified. Public health programs should be considered to increase the intake of vitamin K2-containing fermented plant foods such as sauerkraut, miso, and natto.

“It is important to open the eyes of nutritionists and add Vitamin K2 information to nutrition tables,” add Vik. “Supplementing with products containing MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is a viable route to combatting Vitamin K2 deficiency, but the problem of concretely identifying this deficiency in the population remains a hurdle. Our hope is that the activity of vitamin K-dependent proteins, such as dpucMGP or ucOC, should become an accessible test for any physician to administer, and would be recognized by the medical community as a way to identify vitamin K deficiency.

“Our three-year interventional study[2] confirmed that adding vitamin K2 to one’s daily intake improves arterial health and flexibility,” Vik adds. “We are excited to see additional studies confirming the dangers of K2 deficiency, and encourage the nutritional community to embrace Vitamin K2 for its unique and specific benefits,” Vik concludes.

References:
1 Cundiff D K, Agutter P S (August 24, 2016) Cardiovascular Disease Death Before Age 65 in 168 Countries Correlated Statistically with Biometrics, Socioeconomic Status, Tobacco, Gender, Exercise, Macronutrients, and Vitamin K. Cureus 8(8): e748. DOI 10.7759/cureus.748

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. doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675.

Read More
Show less

K2 – Not K1 – Shown Again to Impact Cardio Health

New study shows high menaquinone intake was associated with reduced risk of CHD, while high intake of phylloquinone was not.
Science & studies
|
22 September 2016

Clinical Nutrition has published a new long-term study[1] that explores if there is a relationship between intake of phylloquinone and menaquinones (vitamins K1 and K2, respectively) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The results showed that high intake of menaquinones (vitamin K2) was associated with a reduced risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) (at least in hypertensive participants), while high intake of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) was not associated with any reduced risks.

“As with the Rotterdam Study (2004) and Prospect-EPIC Study (2009), a link has been established between intake of long-chain menaquinones and cardiovascular health. Improving one’s K2 status results in less calcification of the arteries and soft tissues, leading to improved long-term health outcomes,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leader in vitamin K2 R&D and exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. “These benefits are recognized with Vitamin K2, but not K1, which is important because there is a misconception that daily recommended intake (RDI) of the vitamin K1 is sufficient to protect the arteries for developing arterial diseases. This is not the case, since vitamin K1 is only documented and recognized to meet our needs for coagulation.

“It is, however, vitamin K2, the menaquinones, that are responsible for the cardiovascular benefits, and not vitamin K1,” adds Vik.

This prospective cohort study, entitled “Vitamin K intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality”, included 33,289 participants from the EPIC-NL cohort, aged 20-70 years at baseline and recruited between 1993 and 1997. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline with a validated food frequency questionnaire and intakes of phylloquinone, and total, short-chain and long-chain menaquinones were calculated. Information on vital status and causes of death was obtained through linkage to several registries. The association between the different forms of vitamin K intake and mortality was assessed with Cox proportional hazards, adjusted for risk factors for chronic diseases and nutrient intake.

During a mean follow-up of 16.8 years, 2,863 deaths occurred, including 625 from cardiovascular disease (CVD; 256 from CHD), 1,346 from cancer, and 892 from other causes. After multivariable adjustment, phylloquinone and menaquinones were not associated with all-cause mortality with hazard ratios for the upper vs. the lowest quartile of intake, and neither phylloquinone intake nor menaquinone intake was associated with risk of CVD mortality. However, the researchers concluded that higher intake of long-chain menaquinones was borderline significantly associated (Ptrend = 0.06) with lower CHD mortality with a HR10mg of 0.86 (0.74;1.00). None of the forms of vitamin K intake were associated with cancer mortality or mortality from other causes.

“Our three-year interventional study2 confirmed that adding vitamin K2 to one’s daily intake improves arterial health and flexibility,” Vik adds. “We are enthused to see additional studies confirming this mechanism and encourage the nutritional community to embrace Vitamin K2 for its unique and specific benefits.”

Read More
Show less

Consumer Survey Shows Interest in Supplements for Artery Health

NattoPharma-sponsored survey revealed consumers are actively pursuing healthier arteries through supplementation.
Company Initiatives
|
02 September 2016

Heart Health ranks as one of the top 3 reasons respondents use dietary supplements.

At the request of NattoPharma USA, Inc., Discover Research Group surveyed a total of 380 health- and nutrition-minded individuals regarding heart health in October 2015. The survey focused on answering three primary questions:
1. How concerned are people with the health of their heart?
2. Do they believe that hard arteries are a problem that is associated with poor heart health?
3. How willing would they be to take a supplement to improve the health of their heart by preventing (and even reversing) the hardening of their arteries?

Key Findings: Of the 380 individuals surveyed:
• 87% currently take vitamins or supplements to improve their health.
• 25% identify themselves as having a condition associated with heart disease; 40% have someone in their immediate family with a condition associated with heart disease.
• 35% are very concerned that hardening of the arteries will have a negative impact on their heart health.
• 67% of those surveyed (n = 380) would take a supplement shown to stop hardening of the arteries if the supplement carried no side effects and is priced about the same as other heart health supplements.

Bone and Heart Health are the top reasons customers supplement (reason 2 and 3, respectively). When asked how concerned they were about their heart health on a scale of 1-7, 62% rated their level of concern as 5 or greater (38% rated their level of concern 6 or greater).

Of those who indicated that they or their family member currently has a heart condition (n=232),

• 84% are currently taking a prescription medicine (55% would consider taking a prescription)
• 44% are currently taking a supplement (59% would consider taking a supplement)

Of those who indicated that they currently do not have a heart condition (n=148), for those surveyed between 30 and 40 years old, supplements would be their No. 1 action if they developed heart disease.

“Just over one-third of survey participants ranked ‘hardening of the arteries’ as one of the top 3 risk factors associated with heart disease. This is a concern with growing awareness with Americans, but a natural solution to address this concern was not previously available,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president of global sales and marketing with NattoPharma, exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. “However, our clinical trials have shown that MenaQ7 addresses 2 of the top 3 reasons that health-minded consumers supplement: MenaQ7 not only protects against age-related hardening of the arteries and regressed arterial stiffening, but it also has been shown to improve bone mineral density and strength.”

Read More
Show less

Vitamin K2 – Not K1 – Shown to Impact Heart Health

Researchers conclude that high intake of menaquinones (vitamin K2) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of PAD.
Science & studies
|
23 August 2016

Atherosclerosis has published a new long-term study[1] that explores if there is a relationship between intake of phylloquinone and menaquinones (vitamins K1 and K2, respectively) and risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The results showed that high intake of menaquinones (vitamin K2) was associated with a reduced risk of PAD (at least in hypertensive participants), while high intake of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) was not associated with a reduced risk of PAD. PAD is similar to coronary artery disease (CAD) in that respect that both are caused by atherosclerosis that narrows and blocks arteries in various critical regions of the body.

“Like the Rotterdam Study (2004) and Prospect-EPIC Study (2009), the cardiovascular benefits of K vitamins are only recognized with vitamin K2, not vitamin K1,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leader in vitamin K2 R&D and exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. “This is important because there is a misconception that daily recommended intake (RDI) of the vitamin K1 is sufficient to protect the arteries for developing arterial diseases. This is not the case, since vitamin K1 is only documented and recognized to meet our needs for coagulation. It is, however, vitamin K2, the menaquinones, that are responsible for the cardiovascular benefits, and not vitamin K1.”

“Like the Rotterdam Study (2004) and Prospect-EPIC Study (2009), the cardiovascular benefits of K vitamins are only recognized with vitamin K2, not vitamin K1,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leader in vitamin K2 R&D and exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. “This is important because there is a misconception that daily recommended intake (RDI) of the vitamin K1 is sufficient to protect the arteries for developing arterial diseases. This is not the case, since vitamin K1 is only documented and recognized to meet our needs for coagulation. It is, however, vitamin K2, the menaquinones, that are responsible for the cardiovascular benefits, and not vitamin K1.”

A low vitamin K status, as indicated by high dephosphoundercarboxylated MGP (duc-MGP) levels, has been associated with an increased risk of PAD among type 2 diabetes patients in previous research. To explore a possible clinical applicability for the relationship between low vitamin K status and PAD, the authors aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary intake of phylloquinone and menaquinones and risks of PAD. Furthermore, they examined this association in a general population and explored effects of modification through cardiovascular risk factors such as sex, hypertension, and diabetes.

The study, “The relationship between vitamin K and peripheral arterial disease,” followed up with 36,629 men and women over 12.1 years. During that time, 489 incident cases of PAD were documented. Menaquinones intake was associated with a reduced risk of PAD with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.71, 95% CI; 0.53-0.95 for the highest versus lowest quartile.

According to the researchers, a stronger association was observed (p interaction 0.0001) in study participants with hypertension (HRQ4 versus Q1 0.59; 95% CI 0.39-0.87) or diabetes (HRQ4 versus Q1 0.56; 95% CI 0.18-1.91), though confidence intervals were wide in the small (n = 530) diabetes stratum. Phylloquinone intake (vitamin K1) was not associated with PAD risk.

The researchers concluded: “A high intake of menaquinones (vitamin K2) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of PAD, at least in hypertensive participants. A high menaquinone intake may be associated with a reduced risk of PAD in participants with diabetes as well, though no statistically significant results were observed. High phylloquinone intake (vitamin K1) does not seem associated with PAD risk.”

“Based on our three-year interventional study[2], it was shown that adding vitamin K2 to one’s daily intake improves arterial health and flexibility,” Vik adds. “We are excited and thankful to see additional studies confirming this mechanism and encourage the nutritional community to embrace vitamin K2 for its unique and specific benefits.”

References:
1 Vissers LET, Dalmeijer GW, Boer JMA, Verschuren WMM, van der Schouw YT, Beulens JWJ. The relationship between vitamin K and peripheral aterial disease. Atherosclerosis 252 (2016) 15-20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.07.915
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. doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675.

Read More
Show less

K2 Necessary for Supporting Bone & Heart Health: New Paper

K2 is recognized in the paper, along with calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, as essential in supporting strong bones and healthy arteries.
Science & studies
|
16 August 2016

Open Heart has published a new paper that explores better strategies for optimizing bone strength and reducing risk of fracture, while at the same time decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease. The paper found that Vitamin K2 is recognized, along with calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, as essential in supporting strong bones and healthy arteries.

In the paper, “Nutritional strategies for skeletal and cardiovascular health: hard bones, soft arteries, rather than vice versa,” the authors cite a US Surgeon General’s Report that states that one in two Americans over age 50 is expected to have or to be at risk of developing osteoporosis, which causes 8.9 million fractures annually, with an estimated cumulative cost of incident fractures predicted at $474 billion over the next 20 years in the USA. Further, a Mayo Clinic study reported that compared to 30 years ago, forearm fractures have risen more than 32% in boys and 56% in girls.

Meanwhile, strong epidemiological associations exist between decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. For example, individuals with osteoporosis have a higher risk of coronary artery disease, and vice versa. This problem will be magnified, according to the paper, if the therapies for osteoporosis (e.g., calcium supplements) independently increase risk of myocardial infarction.

To that end, the authors conducted a comprehensive and systematic review of the scientific literature to determine the optimal dietary strategies and nutritional supplements for long-term skeletal health and cardiovascular health. They summarized what is helpful for building strong bones while maintaining soft and supple arteries:

• Obtain calcium from dietary sources (the best choice is a calcium-hydroxyapatite) with the adequate animal protein, fruit and vegetables intake;
• Concomitantly increase potassium consumption while reducing sodium intake should be taken into account;
• Maintain vitamin D levels in the normal range; and
• Increase the intake of foods rich in vitamins K1 and K2.

The study notes: “A meta-analysis concluded that while supplementation with phytonadione (vitamin K1) improved bone health, Vitamin K2 was even more effective in this regard. This large and statistically rigorous meta-analysis concluded that high Vitamin K2 levels were associated with reduced vertebral fractures by approximately 60%, hip fractures by 77% and all non-vertebral fractures by approximately 81%. Supplementation with Vitamin K2 as MK-7 increased bone strength in postmenopausal women in three-year clinical study.

“Additionally, increased Vitamin K2 intake has been associated with decreased arterial calcium deposition and the ability to reverse vascular calcification in animal models. Moreover clinical trial proved that vitamin K2 supplementation increases elasticity of the arteries [over three years],” the paper stated.

The authors recommend increasing the intake of foods rich in vitamins K1 and K2 to secure skeletal and cardiovascular health. While relevant dietary sources for vitamin K1 are referred to in Table 3 on page 4, the authors also state that “the positive health potential of vitamin K2 is more effective than for vitamin K1”. Yet Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leader in Vitamin K2 R&D, exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, and sponsor of the three-year studies cited in the paper, explains that it is not possible to get sufficient amounts of vitamin K2 through a European or US diet. “The only food that contains enough Vitamin K2 is the Japanese dish Natto. This means that if you want to get enough vitamin K2 into your body, then you have to take dietary supplements or functional foods containing Vitamin K2.

“We are gratified, but not surprised, that our three-year clinical studies were cited in this paper,” Dr. Vik continues. “NattoPharma has driven the clinical research that has demonstrated Vitamin K2’s benefits for human health, and our breakthrough studies provided the first intervention data confirming the associations that observational studies made previously: That vitamin K2 as MK-7 is available beyond the liver to support bone and cardiovascular health. And it does this by activating proteins that help the body to properly utilize calcium – there by simultaneously supporting both skeletal and cardiovascular health.”

Reference:
O’Keefe JH, Bergman N, Carrera-Bastos P, et al. Nutritional strategies for skeletal and cardiovascular health: hard bones, soft arteries, rather than vice versa Open Heart 2016;3:e000325. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2015-000325.

Read More
Show less

K2 Impairment by Common Drugs May Cause CVD: New Study

Statins and warfarin shown to share mechanism that causes CVD, Diabetes
Science & studies
|
23 June 2016

A new review paper published in leading journal, Pharmacology, examines the positive associations observed between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and the negative effect of medications prescribed to both groups of patients share a common mechanism: to inhibit vitamin K2-dependent processes, which was interpreted to lead to increased onset of CVD, DM, chronic kidney disease, bone fracture, and even mental disorder.

The authors of the review paper[1], “Medicines and Vegetable Oils as Hidden Causes of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes,” note that impaired vitamin K2-dependent processes by some types of vegetable oils and medicines, but not plasma high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were proposed as the cause of CVD, DM and other lifestyle-related diseases.

“Once again the scientific community recognizes that the inhibition of vitamin K2 synthesis by common medications carries serious, newly recognized repurcussions,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, the world leader in vitamin K2 research and development, adding that while it has been well known for some time that statins inhibit CoQ10, a 2015 review paper[2] finally highlighted that statins also inhibit K2 synthesis. ”Recognized Vitamin K2 antagonists significantly inhibit Vitamin K activity outside the liver with serious, unintended consequences.”

The function of K vitamins is unique among other vitamins and important throughout all life stages. Vitamin K2 activates proteins that are made in different organs in the body – clotting factors in the liver, osteocalcin in bones, and Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) in the vasculature. These proteins help coagulate blood, bind calcium to the surface of bones, and keep calcium from depositing in the arteries and soft tissues.

While the function of Vitamin K2 is vital to ensuring that the body properly utilizes calcium, studies have shown that 97 percent of Western populations are Vitamin K2 deficient/insufficient.[3]

“We are not only finally seeing recognition that Vitamin K2 is woefully insufficient in the diet, but the is a growing body of evidence that pharmaceuticals further exacerbate the problem of our limited Vitamin K2 status, delivering potentially dangerous consequences for human health,” Vik continues.

References:
1 Okuyama H et al. Medicines and Vegetable Oils as Hidden Causes of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes. Pharmacology 2016;98:134–170. DOI: 10.1159/000446704.
2 Okuyama H et al. Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):189-99. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2015.1011125. Epub 2015 Feb 6.
3 Shea MK et al. Circulating uncarboxylated matrix gla protein is associated with vitamin K nutritional status, but not coronary artery calcium, in older adults. J Nutr. 2011 Aug;141(8):1529‐34.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Awarded New K2 Patent

Able to claim MK-7 inhibits or reduces incidence of age-related hardening of the arteries in individuals with cardio conditions.
Patents & Grants
|
14 June 2016

NattoPharma ASA has been awarded a patent that allows the company to claim that MK-7 inhibits or reduces the incidence of age-related hardening of the arteries in individuals with cardiovascular conditions. The patent covers providing an effective amount of vitamin K in combination with vitamin D to reduce the incidence of age-related stiffening of arteries in doses appropriate to dietary supplement ranges, as well as food and beverage products. This U.S. patent (no. 9364447 re. “Compositions for treating or preventing cardiovascular disease”) was approved on June 14, 2016.

“Being awarded this patent clearly validates the discovery of the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin K2 made by the researchers with whom NattoPharma has had pleasure of working with for years,” says NattoPharma CEO Daniel Rosenbaum. “The issuing of this patent further legitimizes the clinical benefits that show the cardio-protective benefits vitamin K2 delivers by even reversing age-related hardening of the arteries. We anticipate exploring opportunities for growth through dietary supplements and functional/fortified foods, as well as future cardiovascular pharmaceutical applications as a result of this intellectual property.”

NattoPharma has invested considerable resources in technology development and patenting around vitamin K2, and that the company is actively using and will use patents—through patent life—as a competitive advantage for companies that buy NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® K2 Study Validates Inflammation Benefits

Exciting new evidence confirming K2 as MK-7 modulates immune and inflammatory biomarkers.
Science & studies
|
31 May 2016

Journal of Medicinal Food has published a new study that successfully tested and confirmed the role of vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7; MenaQ7® provided by NattoPharma) in modulation of the immune and inflammatory biomarkers.

The study, “Inhibition of TNF-a, IL-1a, and IL-1b by Pretreatment of Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages with Menaquinone-7 and Cell Activation with TLR Agonists In Vitro,” is significant because it confirms another mechanism by which vitamin K2 supports cardiovascular health by impact markers of inflammation.

“Chronic inflammation is considered an underlying pathology of many diseases that remain poorly understood and treated,” the researchers wrote. “Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of mortality in the world, is not only considered as a disorder of lipid accumulation, but also as a disease characterized by low-grade inflammation of the endothelial cells and an inappropriate healing response of the vascular lining.”

The commonly recognized function of vitamin K is a cofactor for c-glutamyl carboxylase, an endoplasmic enzyme involved in the posttranslational carboxylation (activation) of proteins with glutamic acid (Glu) residues into c-carboxyglutamate (Gla). With the carboxylation of glutamic acid residues on the protein substrate, a negative chemical group is formed that attracts and binds positively charged calcium cation. Vitamin K2, in particular, is responsible for carboxylation and activation of osteocalcin, which is essential for physiology of bone-building cells, osteoblasts. Vitamin K2 helps in carboxylation and activation of another protein besides osteocalcin, that is, matrix GLA protein (MGP), important for elasticity and prevention of calcification of blood vessels.

To that end, researchers evaluated high-purity natural vitamin K2 (98.4% menaquinone-7, MK-7, as MenaQ7) in vitro for its potential to inhibit gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory markers by human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs) from two sources (hMDMs and THP-1).

The results showed that the MK-7 form of vitamin K2 is able to dose- dependently inhibit TNF-a, IL-1a, and IL-1b gene expression and protein production by healthy hMDMs in vitro. According to the researchers, “In view of these encouraging findings on the anti-inflammatory properties of MK-7, we plan to test additional biomarkers of immune and inflammatory response in this form of vitamin K2 in vitro. This work may elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of vitamin K2 and establish the potential biomarker targets in clinical testing of the role of MK-7 in the cardiovascular health as well as other chronic degenerative conditions.”

“All of the work showing the efficacy of MK-7 inhibiting cardiovascular and soft tissue calcification is recognized to the extent that scientific experts continue to explore new benefits and mechanisms,” says Hogne Vik, NattoPharma chief medical officer. “These findings are very exciting and promising, and we are thrilled that we could offer the research team our vitamin K2 material – providing another piece of evidence that MenaQ7 is a clinically validated ingredient delivering true benefits for human health.”

Reference:
Pan MH, Maresz K, Lee PS, Wu JC, Ho CT, Popko J, Mehta DS, Stohs S??J, Badmaev V. Inhibition of TNF-a, IL-1a, and IL-1b by Pretreatment of Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages with Menaquinone-7 and Cell Activation with TLR Agonists In Vitro. J Med Food.2016 Jul;19(7):663-9.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Sponsorship at Vitafoods

Shining a spotlight on Healthy Ageing benefits of MenaQ7®.
Company Initiatives
|
20 May 2016

Vitafoods Europe is the pre-eminent meeting place for the producers of functional foods, nutrients, and dietary supplements, as well as raw material suppliers from all over the world. And the 2016 show was no exception.

NattoPharma exhibited for the 10th consecutive year in a row with a new booth presence that not only did it highlighted the importance of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 for all of life’s stages, but also the new MenaQ7® Advance Delivery Platform™.

As a sponsor of the Healthy Ageing block at this year’s Vitafoods, Dr. Hogne Vik, NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer, presented “MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 and its Role as the Essential Vitamin for Promoting Healthy Ageing” at the Life Stage Theatre. Dr. Vik delivered data on Vitamin K2 as MK-7 deficiency in all age groups and the importance of including K2 in the diet as a way of promoting healthy aging beginning in childhood. He then opened the floor for questions and engaged with the captivated audience.

In showcasing Vitamin K2’s benefits for all of life’s stages, the NattoPharma team was also eager to discuss two recently published clinical studies that demonstrated the beneficial effect of vitamin K2 supplementation can be achieved by consumption of a yogurt drink fortified with low doses of MK-7 as well as an MK-7-fortfied yogurt (both as MenaQ7®). This proven alternative delivery matrix makes Vitamin K2 to a wider population, specifically children.

Recognizing the great deficiency of Vitamin K2 in the food chain and that K2 has a place in all of life stages, NattoPharma is addressing the health concerns that follow this deficiency by introducing the MenaQ7® Advance Delivery Platform™, making K2 available in applications suited for all ages and preferences.

If you missed the chance to hear Dr. Vik’s presentation, or would like any additional information about recent NattoPharma developments, please feel free to contact us at info@nattopharma.com.

Read More
Show less

K Deficiency Linked to Increased CVD Risk: New Study

AHA publishes 11-year study drawing a clear line between K deficiency and increase risk of CHD.
Science & studies
|
21 April 2016

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, the journal for the American Heart Association, just published an 11-year study that draws a clear line between vitamin K deficiency and an increased risk of coronary heart disease.[1]

To date, 19 Vitamin K–dependent proteins (VKDPs) have been described, with important roles in coagulation, platelet function, and vascular biology. Produced in an inactive form, all VKDPs obtain biological activity through the conversion of a glutamic acid residue into glutamate, a complex process requiring vitamin K.

“Western populations are not afflicted with blood diseases because of a vitamin K1 deficiency. Clearly we get enough vitamin K in our diets to effectively coagulate blood; however, our total K status outside the liver – particularly Vitamin K2 status – plays an important role in maintaining and supporting our heart and bone health,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, world leader in vitamin K2 research and development and exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7.

The authors investigated whether VKDP activity was associated with cardiovascular disease in a random sample of 709 multi-ethnic adults free of cardiovascular disease drawn from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), who were followed up with for 11 years. The circulating des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) concentrations were measured to indicate lower VKDP activity. [Note: des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) is also known as protein induced by vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA-II).]

The results showed that ischemic cardiovascular disease incidence rates were higher with greater concentration of DCP. Further, that subjects with the lowest activity of VKDP revealed two-times higher risk of cardiovascular events than people with the highest activity of VKDP.

“The study showed that a total of 84% of the cohort participants had a DCP >2 ng/mL (considered the threshold for VKDP inactivity), so the majority of participants were vitamin K subdeficient. Moreover, it has been shown that participants with higher DCP concentrations (i.e., lower VKDP activity) tended to be older,” continues Dr. Vik, adding that a similar finding was shown by E. Theuwissen et al. (2014)[2]: that adults above 40 years showed the largest tissue-specific vitamin deficiency after children.

Further, there are other studies where VKDP correlates with cardiovascular survival risk:
• Schlieper et al. 2011[3] showed that lower levels of circulating dp-cMGP may serve a s predictor of mortality in dialysis patients.
• Mayer et al. 2016[4] concluded that concomitant abnormality of uncarboxylated MGP leads to about a two-fold increase of the relative mortality risk in chronic patients with vascular disease.
• Liu et al. 2015[5] showed that higher dp-ucMGP predicts total non-cancer and cardiovascular mortality, but lower coronary risk.

“Researchers have identified populations that consume large amounts of Vitamins K1 and K2 have better heart and bone health outcomes. Intervention studies have also demonstrated that adding vitamin K reduces cardiovascular risk factors,” concludes Dr. Vik. “This is yet another important study showing that a lack of K vitamins, particularly vitamin K2, results in increased cardiovascular risk. This finding should raise awareness of this important class of proteins as a potential contributor to cardiovascular disease protection.”

References:
1 Danzinger J, Young RL, Shea MK, Tracy RP, Ix JH, Jenny NS, Mukamal KJ. Vitmain K-Dependent Protein Activity and Incident Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Athero, Thrombo, and Vasc Bio. 2016;36:1037–1042.
2 Theuwissen et al. Vitamin K status in healthy volunteers. Food & Function. 2014;5(2):229-34.
3 Schlieper et al. Circulating Nonphosphorylated Carboxylated Matrix Gla Protein Predicts Survival in ESRD . J Am Soc Nephrol 2011; 22: 387–395.
4 Mayer et al. The abnormal status of uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein species represents an additional mortality risk in heart failure patients with vascular disease. International Journal of Cardiology 203 (2016) 916–922.
5Liu YP et al. Inactive matrix Gla protein is causally related to adverse health outcomes: a Mendelian randomization study in a Flemish population. Hypertension. 2015 Feb;65(2):463-70.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® Verified by Non-GMO Project

Complete line certified by North America’s only third-party verification and labeling for non-GMO food and products.
Company Initiatives
|
06 April 2016

NattoPharma is proud to announce that its complete line of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 has received verification from the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers North America’s only third-party verification and labeling for non-GMO (genetically modified organism) food and products.

“MenaQ7 has always been non-GMO, yet obtaining Non-GMO Project verification helps reinforce our commitment to our partners, who seek to offer the safest, healthiest finished products available,” says Eric Anderson, senior vice president of global sales and marketing with NattoPharma.

“Consumers are actively seeking out non-GMO products, so having the Non-GMO Project verify our line in accordance with their standard provides our partners an added level of support they rightfully expect,” Anderson continues. “Further, it perpetuates MenaQ7’s reputation as being the leading Vitamin K2 as MK-7 brand.”

Read More
Show less

K2 in Yogurt Effectively Increases K Status: New Study

Second study using MeanQ7® confirms the dairy matrix provides an ideal environment.
Science & studies
|
03 March 2016

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently published a study[1] that adds to the growing body of evidence showing that Vitamin K2 as MenaQ7® can be delivered and is highly bioavailable through yogurt and soft gel capsules, making the nutrient safe, effective, and available to an even larger population.

The researchers previously studied the effects of vitamin K status after 8 weeks of intake of a yogurt fortified with MenaQ7 PURE and enriched with vitamins C and D3, magnesium, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. For this new study, the researchers compared the fasting plasma concentrations of MK-7 from (a) yogurt enriched with MK-7, vitamins D3 and C, magnesium, n-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and fish oil (yogurt Kplus); (b) yogurt fortified with MK-7 only (yogurt K); and (c) soft gel capsules containing only MK-7 for 42 days in healthy men and postmenopausal women between 45 and 65 years of age. The MK-7 in the yogurts and the capsules was MenaQ7 from NattoPharma ASA.

Circulating MK-7, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and markers for vitamin K status [uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) and desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP)] were assessed. The increase in plasma MK-7 with the yogurt Kplus product was more pronounced than the increase in MK-7 with the capsules. However, circulating dp-ucMGP and ucOC were significantly lowered after consumption of both the yogurt products and the MK-7 capsules, reflecting vitamin K status improvement from both delivery methods.

“This important study validates obtaining Vitamin K2 from food sources is essentially equivalent to Vitamin K2 delivered in supplements,” says Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with NattoPharma, exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7. “Clearly getting Vitamin K2 from diet is ideal, be it cheese, natto, or enriched yogurts. However, as most Western populations are deficient in this essential nutrient, they are not getting enough from diet, making supplementation a viable alternative.

“This study further affirms that MenaQ7 is a safe and effective as either a supplement or a functional food,” adds Vik. “We see this as support for further exploring the use of MenaQ7 in yogurt and other dairy products so we can reach an even wider audience.”

Reference:
1 Knapen MHJ, Braam LAJL, Teunissen KJ, van’t Hoofd CM, Zwijsen RML, van den Heuvel EGHM, Vermeer C. Steady-state vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) plasma concentrations after intake of dairy products and soft gel capsules. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2016), 1–6.

Read More
Show less
2015

MenaQ7® K2-Fortified Yogurt Helps Improve Heart Health

New delivery format confirmed successful at delivering K2 health benefits.
Science & studies
|
05 November 2015

A new study shows that consumption of yogurt fortified with MenaQ7® improves Vitamin K2 status significantly for healthy people, contributing to improved cardiovascular health.

The Journal of Nutritional Science recently published a study that adds to the growing body of evidence showing that Vitamin K2 is a safe and effective supplement. Additionally, it shows that Vitamin K2 as MenaQ7® can be absorbed through yogurt, which makes the nutrient available to an even larger population.

“Consumers already recognize yogurt as a healthy choice. The fact that we can now enrich yogurt with a vitamin that the majority of the population is deficient is a major breakthrough. The study’s results imply that we, by adding MenaQ7 to a popular food item, can bring significant health benefits to a larger percentage of people,” says Eric Anderson, senior vice president of global sales and marketing at NattoPharma, exclusive global supplier of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7.

A number of studies have previously shown that supplementation with MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 improved cardiovascular health by reducing age-related arterial calcification, and improved bone health by increasing bone density and mass. The new study, in which healthy patients received low doses of MK7 in a yogurt drink for three months, shows that the benefits of Vitamin K2 can be obtained through other delivery systems than traditional dietary supplements.

“This study not only confirms that short-term use of MenaQ7 can improve health, but also that yogurt is an effective way of providing the public with this important nutrient,” says Hogne Vik, CEO of NattoPharma. “We already have clinical documentation showing that children generally have a deficiency of Vitamin K2. The confirmation that our ingredient also works in a yogurt product is an important step forward. This means that we can make the nutrient available to more people, reach a younger audience, and create a healthier generation.”

Reference:

Knapen MHJ, Braam LAJLM, Teunissen KJ, Zwijsen RML, Theuwissen E, Vermeer C. Yogurt drink fortified with menauqinione07 improves vitamin K status in a healthy population. J Nutr Sci, 4, E35. Doi:10.1017/jns.2015.25.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® PURE Study Protocol Published (VitaK-CAC)

Nutrients publishes rationale and protocol for study of a needy patient population that will validate calcification mechanism in cardio tissues.
Science & studies
|
29 October 2015

Nutrients, an international, peer-reviewed journal for studies related to Human Nutrition, has approved a new study rational that aims to show the protective effect of vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7; MenaQ7® PURE provided by NattoPharma ASA) supplementation on holding the progression of coronary artery calcification for publication in October 2015.

The study, “Menaquinone-7 supplementation to reduce vascular calcification in patients with coronary artery disease: rationale and study protocol (VitaK-CAC trial),” will be significant because it will add to the substantial body of evidence demonstrating the cardiovascular benefits of Vitamin K2 as MK-7, lending further understanding to the mechanism by which it inhibits calcification to cardiovascular muscle.

“Coronary artery calcification (CAC) develops early in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial calcification is caused by an imbalance in calcification regulatory mechanisms. An important inhibitor of calcification is vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein (MGP). Both preclinical and clinical studies have shown that inhibition of the vitamin K-cycle by vitamin K antagonists (VKA) results in elevated uncarboxylated MGP (ucMGP) and subsequently in extensive arterial calcification,” says Dr. Leon Schurgers, associate professor and senior scientist at the department of biochemistry, the Cardiovascular Research Institute CARIM of University of Maastricht (The Netherlands), and researcher on the study. “This led us hypothesize that supplementation with vitamin K2 as MK-7 may slow down progression of CAC.

The researchers designed the VitaK-CAC trial to analyze the effects of menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation on progression of CAC. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will randomize patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with a baseline Agatston CAC-score between 50 and 400 into an intervention-group (360 microgram MK-7) or placebo-group for 24 months. The primary endpoint is the difference in CAC-score progression between both groups. Secondary endpoints include changes in arterial structure and function and associations with biomarkers.

The researchers hope that the MK-7 supplementation will slow down the progression of CAC in patients with CAD. The results of this study are expected by the end of 2017.

“So far, no treatment options are available for limiting or holding the progression of vascular calcification,” adds Dr. Schurgers, “and this trial may lead to a novel treatment option for vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease.” “All of the work showing the efficacy of MK-7 inhibiting cardiovascular and soft tissue calcification is recognized to the extent that scientific experts are conducting clinical studies in advanced CAC patients,” says Hogne Vik, NattoPharma CEO. “We hope this trial demonstrates the benefit of vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as our MenaQ7 PURE material) for diseased populations, lending further support and understanding to the mechanism of action by which this essential nutrient inhibits arterial calcification.”

Read More
Show less

Conventional K Antagonists Harm Cardio Patients

Kidney International study highlights Vitamin K2 more effective reducing AVF failure.
Science & studies
|
15 October 2015

Kidney International, a journal of the Nature group and the International Society of Nephrology, has approved for publication in October 2015 a new paper showing the protective effect vitamin K2 on arteriovenous fistula failure, a common complication suffered by chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients requiring hemodialysis.

The study, “Vitamin K- antagonist aggravate CKD induced neointimal hyperplasia and calcification in arterialized veins: potential role for vitamin K2 to prevent AVF failure”, is significant because it adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the dangers of vitamin K antagonists (i.e., oral anticoagulants), a common traditional cardiovascular therapy inducing severe vitamin K deficiency, and how vitamin K2 provides an alternative impactful therapy to combat vascular damage.

“Arteriovenous fistula (AVFs) is a frequently used vascular access type for chronic kidney disease patients requiring hemodialysis. AVF failure is a complication leading to high hospitalization rates and morbidity. Whereas early AVF failure is caused by thrombosis or the veins’ inability to dilate, later-course AVF failure is induced by stenosis and thrombosis resulting from neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) and calcification,” says Dr. Leon Schurgers, associate professor and senior scientist at the department of biochemistry, the Cardiovascular Research Institute CARIM of University of Maastricht (The Netherlands), and researcher on the study. “Vascular calcification is a frequent complication in CKD patients; diagnosed as arterial calcification and calcification of arterialized veins. Recent work indicates that AVF calcification contributes to AVF failure.” 

Dr. Schurgers notes that CKD patients have significantly lower circulating vitamin K concentrations compared to the general population and hemodialysis patients have a poor overall vitamin K status due to low vitamin K intake. In addition, a high number of CKD patients at risk of arterial and venous thrombosis receive oral anticoagulants (vitamin K-antagonists; VKA). VKAs interfere with carboxylation of coagulation factors, but also impair the activation of Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), a vitamin K-dependent protein produced by vascular smooth muscle cells that is a powerful vascular calcification inhibitor.

“These constellations make CKD patients and patients undergoing VKA therapy, such as warfarin, prone to vascular calcification,” he explains. “Treatment of CKD patients with vitamin K2 has been a suggested option to inhibit vascular calcification by counteracting the vitamin K deficiency.”

To that end, AVF was generated in 190 rats. CKD was induced using adenine-enriched diet. Effects of CKD, VKA and K2 on AVF remodeling were evaluated using histology, morphometric analysis and immunohistochemistry. Examination of native and arterialized human veins was performed.

Results showed that arterialization, CKD and VKA significantly enhanced AVF failure. K2 supplementation reduced AVF failure in healthy and CKD animals.

The data showed that K2 enhanced matrix Gla protein (MGP) carboxylation in control and CKD animals. Human vein samples showed inactive MGP at calcification and NIH sites, indicating local vitamin K-deficiency. “We show that VKA treatment has detrimental effects on AVF remodeling,” says Dr. Schurgers. “K2 supplementation reduced NIH and calcification – and thus AVF failure – indicating vasoprotective effects. In arterialized veins, K2 should be considered as therapeutic approach to prevent AVF failure.”

“Clearly oral anticoagulant vitamin K antagonists thin blood at the expense of other essential metabolic functions, such as proper calcium utilization for bone support and cardiovascular protection,” says Hogne Vik, CEO of NattoPharma, makers of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7. “It is time the medical community change the standard of care away from ‘rat poison.’”

Reference:

Zaragatski E, Grommes J, Schurgers LJ, Langer S, Kees L, Tamm M, Koeppel TA, Kranz J, Hackhofer T, Arakelyan K, Jacobs MJ, Kokozidou M. Vitamin K- antagonist aggravate CKD induced neointimal hyperplasia and calcification in arterialized veins: potential role for vitamin K2 to prevent AVF failure. Kidney Int. 2016 Mar;89(3):601-11.

Read More
Show less

SSW K2 Workshop is Huge Success

First industry event focused entirely on Vitamin K2.
Company Initiatives
|
12 October 2015

The 2015 SupplySide West Conference Global Conference & Expo, the largest tradeshow for the dietary supplement, food, and pharmaceutical industries in the United States, continued its reign as being a must-attend event. NattoPharma USA, Inc. talked with attendees about how they could innovate their products with MenaQ7®, the only clinically validated Vitamin K2 as MK-7 on the market, as well as their eager anticipation of the Vitamin K2 Workshop.

This year’s SupplySide West did not disappoint. With an expanded show floor and new layout, attendees, who turned out in record numbers, had their work cut out for them covering the massive 2-day event held October 8-9.

NattoPharma USA, Inc. enjoyed consistent, heavy traffic. Visitors actively sought out Booth #431 to discuss the impressive body of clinical evidence demonstrating MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7’s benefit for bone and cardiovascular health, the brand’s strong IPR, as well as how the varieties of MenaQ7® PURE and Crystals met specific formulation needs.

But a topic buzzing around the show floor was the first-of-its kind “Vitamin K2 Workshop: New Findings & Trends for Heart and Bone Health.” As part of the agenda after the show floor closed (Friday October 9), many stated they extended their stay specifically to attend this event.

This 3-hour seminar featured renowned speakers who enlightened the packed house with the latest findings supporting Vitamin K2’s human health benefits and illuminated for the crowd what these findings could mean for the state of global health.

  • Dennis Goodman, MD, cardiologist, director of integrative medicine at New York University, discussed that state of cardiovascular health and how traditional therapies, such as statins, have undeniable flaws. He explained how the strong science supporting Vitamin K2 inspired him to pen his latest book, “Vitamin K2: The Missing Nutrient for Heart and Bone Health”, and how it is being used in integrative medicine.
  • Leon Schurgers, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry at University Maastricht and CARIM (Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht), gave attendees an inside look at his research efforts showing that K2 is the key vitamin in controlling vascular calcification, via activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins such as matrix Gla protein. With great charm and humor, Dr. Schurgers broke down the complicated cascade of findings, and provided a glimpse of where research is headed in the future.
  • Katarzyna Maresz, PhD, president of the International Science and Health Foundation, closed off the session, putting into perspective the state of Vitamin K2 deficiency in Western societies and the implications this has on our health, particularly the health of children. She shared study results highlighting that children have the greatest need for K vitamins, as well as the positive effect supplementation has been shown to have on child populations.

Each presenter graciously answered questions from the eager crowd. With so much interest and amazing attendance – and so many new developments on the horizon – there is no doubt this event will appear on SupplySide West agendas in years to come.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Research Network Receives 2.9M Euro Grant

Will fund further clinical substantiation for MenaQ7® K2
Patents & Grants
|
09 September 2015

NattoPharma participates in an International Research Network, coordinated by Queen Mary University of London, that has been awarded with a 2.9-million Euro grant from European Commission’s research program Horizon 2020-MSCA-ITN. Other partners of the network are four highly ranked research university departments in Europe [University of Maastricht, University College Dublin (part of the national University of Ireland), Ludvig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Karolinske Institutet in Stockholm] and the independent life science medical research charity in the UK, the Medical Research Council Technology. The grant NattoPharma participates in is called “EVOLuTION” (European Vascular Interventions and Therapeutic Innovation Network), and the money will be utilized to train the next generation of entrepreneurial scientists within this scope.

According to Horizon 2020, a staggering amount of research program applications were received, and each application was evaluated by a panel of experts within the relevant field of research, with the highest possible score being 100%. The EVOLuTION application received 95.6% of maximum 100%, one of the highest scores for all applications received by the commission.

Since 2004, NattoPharma works in close relation with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of menaquinone-7, the company’s exclusive vitamin K2 branded as MenaQ7®. The Horizon 2020 grant will fund two full-time persons at the University of Maastricht for the next 3 years, focusing on characterization and documentation of new biological aspects and effects of MenaQ7®. 

“The Horizon 2020 research grant is one of the most prestigious grants in Europe. The successful grant assignment and the opportunity to allocate highly qualified researchers to further work on vitamin K research is a great recognition of the MenaQ7 platform by this collaboration so far,” says Associate professor Leon Schurgers at CARIM, Maastricht University, the main contact between NattoPharma, the University, and Horizon 2020. “I have great expectations for potential new and exciting observations that will arise from our mutual efforts – identifying even more positive health benefits of MenaQ7.”

“The assignment of the Horizon 2020 grant is not only an amazing honor, but, as commercial partner, serves as a great recognition of NattoPharma and our long-term research strategy. Since 2004, NattoPharma’s first priority has always been the documentation of MenaQ7’s biological effects. The beneficial effects of MenaQ7 on bone and vasculature is what has driven our marketing efforts,” says NattoPharma CEO Hogne Vik. “The expected future achievements from this research collaboration and explorations of MenaQ7 in Maastricht and other scientific environments over the next 3 years will enable NattoPharma to strengthen our scientific position. We are eager to secure more biological data that can open up novel user indications, as well as extending our patent portfolio.”

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® PURE K2 Shown to Protect Against Calcification: New Study

MenaQ7® PURE used as source material confirming K2 inhibits muscle damage from calcification.
Science & studies
|
03 September 2015

Nutrients, an international, peer-reviewed journal for studies related to Human Nutrition, has approved for publication in September 2015 a new study showing the protective effect inhibiting muscle damage from calcification of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7; MenaQ7® PURE provided by NattoPharma) supplementation on cardiovascular calcification.

The study, “High-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Reduces Cardiovascular Calcification in a Murine Model of Extraosseous Calcification,” is significant because it adds to the substantial body of evidence demonstrating the cardiovascular benefits of Vitamin K2 as MK-7, lending further understanding to the mechanism by which it inhibits calcification damage to cardiovascular muscle.

“Cardiovascular calcification is prevalent in the aging population and in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus, giving rise to substantial morbidity and mortality,” says Dr. Leon Schurgers, associate professor and senior scientist at the department of biochemistry, the Cardiovascular Research Institute CARIM of University of Maastricht (The Netherlands), and lead researcher on the study. “The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of high-dose MK-7 supplementation on the development of cardiovascular calcification and the impact on cardiovascular function in a murine model of chronic kidney disease characterized by extraosseous calcification.”

As it is well documented that kidney disease patients frequently suffer cardiovascular complications like calcification of the aorta and coronary arteries, the scientists applied an in-vivo rat model system for kidney disease.

The animals were divided into four groups: Two control groups with intact kidneys and on standard diet with respect to content of Phosphate and Calcium ± supplementation with 100µg Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (MenaQ7 ® PURE from NattoPharma)/g; and two treatment groups where 5/6 of their kidneys were removed (mimicking kidney patients) receiving a diet with high content of both Phosphate and Calcium ± supplementation with 100µg MK-7/g.

After 12 weeks, the animals were examined for calcification of the aorta, the myocardium, and in kidneys, as well as for certain other changes in the tissues. Using a sensitive technique for arterial calcification (atomic absorption spectroscopy), this study shows that high-dose MK-7 inhibits calcification in aorta and in the myocardium – parts of the arterial bed most often affected in kidney patients. MK-7 also normalized the kidney disease-induced high serum phosphate level.

Interestingly, a 10-fold increase in matrix Gla protein (MGP) gene expression in the MK-7 supplemented animals was recorded. According to the authors, this is the first time that MK-7 has been shown to affect the synthesis of MGP in the vascular wall – and not only locally in the arterial wall. This indicates an increased amount of MGP available for activation to inhibit calcification.

The researchers stated that MK-7 supplementation inhibited cardiovascular calcification and decreased aortic alkaline phosphate tissue concentrations. The effect of MK-7 was – at least in part – mediated via MGP and subsequent inhibition of ectopic calcification. Since vitamin K has no reported side effects, it seems a promising therapeutic agent for CKD patients, the researchers concluded.

“NattoPharma has enjoyed a long-standing R&D program with the University of Maastricht and CARIM with the specific goal of understanding and validating the benefits of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 for human health,” says Hogne Vik, NattoPharma CEO. “This study is monumental because it shows that our MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 protected smooth muscle cells from calcification. Being able to provide the researchers with our new nature-identical MenaQ7 PURE to add to our growing body of clinical validation marks a true milestone for us.”

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma & Dr. Mercola Partnership

Leading health educator selects MenaQ7® K2 as featured ingredients in prestigious line of products.
Company Initiatives
|
21 August 2015

Nattopharma is pleased to announce that Mercola, a leading health education company offering premium products, selected it as a preferred supplier partner. Not only has Mercola included NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 as a featured ingredient in the prestigious Dr. Mercola Premium Products line, but the two companies have combined their resources to educate consumers about the clinically validated health benefits of Vitamin K2.

Founded in 1997, Mercola.com has become the world’s No. 1 Natural Health website and one of the top 10 health websites. The company has over one million newsletter subscribers, including tens of thousands of healthcare professionals, and has a subscriber in most countries in the world. Each daily newsletter caters to Web users who don’t have the time to sift through hundreds of medical studies, and who want medical and dietary insights in an easy-to-understand, straightforward manner.

In addition, Mercola.com receives 30 million page views each month and offers over 100,000 pages of free and original health information based on the expertise of leading health professionals in fields including nutrition, exercise, health, and stress management. All of the beneficial information is untainted by corporate or outside influences – Founder Dr. Joseph Mercola is armed with more than 20 years of clinical experience and seeks out interviews that meet his strict criteria.

To that end, NattoPharma was thrilled to be able to connect Dr. Mercola with Vitamin K2 experts for his independent consideration. These introductions have resulted in remarkable interviews:

• Dr. Mercola Interviews Leon Schurgers, PhD: Vitamin K and Its Benefits– posted January 11, 2015, the interview and corresponding article has been viewed just over a half million times.

• Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Dennis Goodman: Vitamin K2: The Missing Nutrient for Heart and Bone Health– posted on June 28, 2015, the interview and corresponding article have received over 300,000 views.

“Dr. Mercola’s interest in interviewing these respected experts was based on the opportunity to explore and present the substantial science supporting the critically important nutrient K2 to his viewers, who rely on him to provide timely and relevant medical and nutritional information in a way that is easy to understand,” says Dr. Michael Lelah, chief research scientist with Mercola.

“Dr. Mercola’s mission is to transform the medical – pharmaceutical healthcare paradigm into one in which the root cause of disease, rather than the symptoms, is treated by maintaining health and wellness, and through prevention,” Dr. Lelah continues. “Dr. Mercola provides the most up-to-date health news and information, free and available to help you take control of your health and live a long, healthy life.”

NattoPharma CEO Dr. Hogne Vik believes the amazing response these interviews have earned is a testament to Dr. Mercola: “[His] dedication to offering his readers content based on important science is why he has such a loyal and growing following.”

In addition to education, the Mercola/NattoPharma partnership has resulted in MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7’s inclusion in two products that are part of the Dr. Mercola Premium Products line – a standalone Vitamin K2 product and a newly introduced Calcium, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin K2 combination formula.

“We believe we earned the attention of Mercola – and ultimately were selected as a partner – because NattoPharma has been driving the scientific discovery behind the benefits of Vitamin K2,” Dr. Vik continues. “We could not be happier to have Mercola, with its demonstrated years of excellence providing only the best ingredients available, join the NattoPharma family, and we look forward to even greater successes in helping people take control of their health.”

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma & TG Montgomery Partnership

Exclusive agreement brings MenaQ7® to Sweden
Company Initiatives
|
12 August 2015

NattoPharma and TG Montgomery, one of the largest sales agents of vitamin K2 in Norway, have signed an agreement to enter the Swedish market with the brand MenaQ7® – K2 vitamin.

TG Montgomery is one of NattoPharma’s largest customers of the brand MenaQ7®. TG Montgomery’s pioneering marketing of vitamin K2 in Norway has the last two years generated very good sales figures, and the company has built a Norwegian client portfolio that buys MenaQ7® regularly through a subscription scheme.

TG Montgomery has chosen Sweden as their next focus country, a country with twice as many inhabitants as Norway. In Sweden the knowledge of vitamin K2 is growing but the availability of vitamin K2 small.

Throughout spring and summer 2015 TG Montgomery established a good infrastructure for direct sales of MenaQ7® – K2 vitamin in Sweden, and starts up a test sale of the product August 2015. The test sale is built up in the same way as the successful marketing concept that was launched in Norway 2014. TG Montgomery strongly believe in a market breakthrough for MenaQ7® – K2 vitamin in Sweden, and expects shortly to get twice as many customers in Sweden that the company currently has in Norway. As a part of the initiative TG Montgomery the next two years plans to invest nearly 100 million NOK in a country-specific marketing and product information of MenaQ7® – vitamin K2 in Sweden.

“The brand MenaQ7® in Norway has become synonymous with Vitamin K2”, says CEO Kim Øien in TG Montgomery. “We have good experiences with selling vitamin K2 delivered from NattoPharma in Norway, and has therefore chosen NattoPharma’s MenaQ7 – K2 vitamin for our efforts in Sweden. This is because MenaQ7® is the only vitamin K2 product in the world that has patent protection for health benefits, and is the only vitamin K2 with backing clinical documentation proving that vitamin K2 has positive health effects in humans, “continues Øien.”The documented proven product MenaQ7® – K2 vitamin, combined with excellent customer references, a good infrastructure, strong marketing concept and not least a changing market – at an increased e-commerce trade – enables TG Montgomery to look very optimistic for the future possibilities for MenaQ7® – Vitamin K2 in Sweden “.

“The major initiative to TG Montgomery in Sweden for MenaQ7® is very good news for us,” says CEO of NattoPharma, Hogne Vik. “TG Montgomery has achieved excellent sales results for our vitamin K2 in the Norwegian market. NattoPharma expects that we’ll see a similar market penetration – and consequently increased sales of our vitamin K2, MenaQ7, in Sweden as a result of this initiative. The fact that TG Montgomery will enter Sweden with a significant marketing campaign is positive for NattoPharma, also considering the possibility that the trademark MenaQ7 will be more familiar in Sweden and that the substance vitamin K2’s positive health benefits may be better known among the general public,” continues Vik.

Read More
Show less

Statins Inihibit K2: New Review Paper

Paper identifies the statin mechanism as impacting K2 synthesis, contributing to cardiovascular risks.
Science & studies
|
26 May 2015

Few consumers read Expert Review Clinical Pharmacology, but NattoPharma, makers of MenaQ7™ Vitamin K2 as MK-7, feels a new paper published in the March issue should be part of doctors’ conversations with their patients before they prescribe a statin therapy.

The paper[1] states that statins may act as “mitochondrial toxins” with negative effects on the heart and blood vessels not only via the depletion of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), but also by inhibiting “the synthesis of vitamin K2, the cofactor for matrix Gla-protein activation, which in turn protects arteries from calcification.

Vitamin K2 plays a critical role 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, statins 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, NattoPharma CEO. “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.”

Supporting Vik’s statement, a new 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® brand Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7) on cardiovascular health through its improvement of arterial flexibility. This study is significant because it is an interventional study with a vitamin K2 dietary supplement, MenaQ7, confirming  what previous population-based studies have shown: a positive correlation of vitamin K2 consumption from dietary sources attributes to less arterial calcification and reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

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. Results confirmed that MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 not only inhibited age-related stiffening of the artery walls, but also made an unprecedented statistically significant improvement of vascular elasticity.

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.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® PURE Obtains Novel food Approval From EFSA

Year-long application process completed with approval.
Company Initiatives
|
15 April 2015

NattoPharma ASA has today, Wednesday 15th April 2015, received written information from the Policy officer in the European Commission, DG Health and Food Safety, communicating that MenaQ7 PURE has received Novel Food approval by EFSA.

“This Novel Food approval is very good news for NattoPharma and of material importance for our sales and marketing of MenaQ7 PURE in Europe. The approval also represents a “quality stamp” for our world-wide distributors. By offering MenaQ7 PURE to customers in Europe NattoPharma will further strengthen our competitive edge”, says Hogne Vik, CEO in NattoPharma.

The MenaQ7 PURE product is a high quality product with efficient production costs. In combination with high quality this product is a good option for customers requiring low cost products, either by introducing MenaQ7 into existing products or by developing new product lines. NattoPharma considers that the largest potential for growth and increased revenues are within the synthetic products market within these segments, requiring huge volumes of MenaQ7 material.

According to Hogne Vik this has been a long process. “The application was filed April 2014, and it has taken close to one year to come through with an approval for our product. However, the approval came in due time. A full European launch of MenaQ7 PURE will take place in the upcoming Vitafoods Fair in Geneva, Switzerland in beginning of May 2015, where NattoPharma will be present with our own booth”.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma’s Award-Winning MenaQ7 PURE

New K2 produced via nature-identical synthesis recognized Best New Ingredient at Natural Products Expo West.
Company Initiatives
|
09 March 2015

NattoPharma ASA and its subsidiary NattoPharma USA, Inc. were honored to have MenaQ7™ PURE Vitamin K2 as MK-7, a first-in-class, nature-identical synthetic ingredient, recognized as the NutrAward winner for Best Functional Ingredient 2015 at this year’s Engredea trade show held in Anaheim, CA, March 6-8.

Co-located with Natural Products Expo West, the largest trade show dedicated to the natural products industry, Engredea encompasses the world of ingredients, bringing together the community of leading suppliers and manufacturers to source new ingredients, packaging, technologies, equipment, and services. The NutrAward program was created by New Hope, show organizer and a division of Penton Media, to reward and recognize companies that are investing in rigorous and measurable scientific studies to prove the efficacy of their proprietary ingredients or technologies.

The NutrAward winner is selected based on a weighted vote by the selection committee, as well as through a vote by Engredea and Expo West attendees. Voting is based on how well the ingredient or product meets the following defined criteria:

  • Scientific Merit – Does the submission reflect sound science and research conducted under appropriate conditions and on appropriate models?
  • Efficacy – Does the submission confirm that the product, technology, ingredient, instrumentation, equipment, or service has a demonstrable impact that allows a health-related benefit?
  • Safety – Has the submission clearly established safety when used or applied?
  • Innovation – Has the submission shown a unique approach, concept or benefit above and beyond leveraging prior art or general knowledge in the field? Is the product, technology, ingredient, instrumentation, equipment, or service truly new and different, and not simply repurposing or reorienting existing knowledge?
  • Market Potential – Is the concept likely to be commercially successful? Is the target category/application well-defined and of interest in the current (or future) marketplace?
  • Ability to Increase Market Credibility – Does the submission support a concept that has the potential to make a difference to overall industry and/or marketing credibility?

From an impressive pool of more than 200 nominees, four candidates were selected for the final round. The winner – receiving 100% more votes than the runner up – was NattoPharma and MenaQ7™ PURE. “This confirms that the product exceeded the requirements, stemming from the impressive body of research and substantiation that NattoPharma has always put at the forefront of its operations,” says Eric Anderson, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, NattoPharma USA, Inc.

“NattoPharma is very proud of the recognition bestowed upon us by the judging committee for the NutrAwards. We have been confident in our pursuit of a nature-identical synthetic product that delivers a bioequivalent molecule to our flagship MenaQ7 material. This award validates that pursuit,” says Frode Bohan, NattoPharma ASA’s Chairman of the Board, who acceptedthe NutrAward.

Receiving the NutrAward just weeks after the publication of MenaQ7’s cardiovascular study in Thrombosis and Haemostasis marks the crowning achievement of years of hard work and perseverance.

“Observational data has drawn a clear association between vitamin K2 and cardiovascular health, but the acceptance and publication of our interventional study is the proof that our MenaQ7 not only inhibits age-related arterial calcification, but also improves arterial flexibility,” says Hogne Vik, CEO of NattoPharma ASA.

“This study validates that vitamin K2 can change the way we look at preventative heart health, while this award shows there is a clear need in the market for a standardized, affordable ingredient that gives manufacturers an opportunity to bring vitamin K2’s benefits the masses.” The 2015 NutrAwards for Best Functional Ingredient and Best New Finished Product featuring a Functional Ingredient were awarded Thursday, March 5, 2015 at the Engredea/NBJ (Nutrition Business Journal) Reception, a kick off to the 2015 Engredea trade show. 

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Completes DMF

Completed for MK-7 ahead of schedule.
Company Initiatives
|
24 February 2015

NattoPharma ASA has completed the first version of the “Drug Master File” (DMF) – for the substance MK7 (menaquinone-7). The DMF is financed through operational costs, for a major part through 2014. DMF is a document that describes in detail a substance that is ready for documentation of biological effects and medical usefulness for treating diseases. A DMF equals “Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control” portion of an NDA document (New Drug Application), which is the document regulatory authorities in Europe, USA, Japan, and the rest of the world requires to assess whether a substance should be approved as a drug.

In 2013, NattoPharma ASA announced for the first time that the company is planning to develop a vitamin K2 drug. In relation with the press release regarding the acquisition of the remaining part of Vitasynth Ltd. in 2014, the company communicated that it “was on track with its pharmaceutical development program.”

“We are proud to announce that the first version of the DMF document is completed earlier than planned. NattoPharma continues with studies of biological effects and medical usefulness of MK-7 as part of the pharmaceutical product development process. We are dedicated towards getting a drug to the market,” says Hogne Vik, NattoPharma CEO.

In the short term, NattoPharma ASA is engaged in getting the MK7 molecule approved as a drug in some countries, based on the aforementioned DMF and existing biological documentation. As of February 2015, MK7 is classified as a drug in Tunisia, while applications for drug approvals are in process in Lebanon, Iraq, and Kuwait. It is expected to get the product registered as a drug in one or more of these countries during the next 3-18 months. With such drug-approvals, MK7 could be included in reimbursement programs (paid by various health insurance programs). The pharmaceutical documentation program required for drug-approvals in Europe, USA, Japan, and large parts of the world continues. Costs beyond the completion of the DMF will, as previously announced, be financed through specific partner agreements, and not by NattoPharma’s normal operating budgets.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® 3-Year Cardiovascular Study Publishes

Breakthrough heart study proves MenaQ7® K2 cardiovascular benefits
Science & studies
|
19 February 2015

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, The International Journal for Vascular Biology and Medicine, has approved for publication in its May 2015 print issue a new study showing the positive impact of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7) on cardiovascular health through its improvement of arterial flexibility.

The study titled “Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Improves Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Postmenopausal Women”[1] is significant because it confirms what previous population-based studies have only been able to show an association, according to Cees Vermeer, renowned vitamin K2 scientist and Chief Innovation Officer at the R&D Group VitaK of the Maastricht University Holding (the Netherlands), who led the study’s research team.

“This is the first study showing that long-term use of vitamin K2 in the form of MK-7 beneficially affects cardiovascular health,” says Vermeer. “Previous population-based studies have shown an association between vitamin K2 intake and cardiovascular risk, but this is the first intervention trial focused on Vitamin K2 supplementation with cardiovascular endpoints.”

Researchers at the R&D Group VitaK of the Maastricht University Holding 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. Results confirmed that MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 not only inhibited age-related stiffening of the artery walls, but also made an unprecedented statistically significant improvement of vascular elasticity.

“Our data demonstrated that a nutritional dose of vitamin K2 in fact improves cardiovascular outcomes,” Vermeer continues.

This same cohort was examined for another study proving MenaQ7’s bone benefits that published in Osteoporosis International in 2013[2]. 

“Both studies are significant because they are long-term – three years of participation and then examination of the results,” said Hogne Vik, NattoPharma CEO. “Observing changes in heart health, and bone health for that matter, take time. Our patience and perserverence has paid off with a study accepted by a highly prestigious medical journal that proves what we have known all along: that MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 truly delivers benefits for hearts and bones.”

“This cardiovascular study is significant because it shows that vitamin K2 not only benefits our bone health, but is also important to heart health,” said Dennis Goodman, MD, board-certified cardiologist and Director of Integrative Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. “Vitamin K2 ensures calcium binds to the bone mineral matrix and stays out of the arteries. This is important because if calcium accumulates in the arteries, it may cause blockages that can lead to serious cardiovascular events, such as heart disease and strokes.”

Dr. Goodman, who is completing a new book explaining the important role that vitamin K2 plays in achieving both bone and heart health, says flexibility of the arteries also has a direct connection to a person’s longevity. Calcification in the arteries has been shown to add 10 years to a person’s biological age, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (Rosenhek, et al., 2000). Another study published in the  scientific journal Atherosclerosis (Shaw et al., vol. 188, 206) shows your biological age could decrease or increase by 10 years based on the level of age-related arterial calcification.

“This study, which is actually showing an improvement in endothelial function, has the potential to dramatically impact the way we view prevention when it comes to cardiovascular health,” Goodman adds. “Further clinical studies will be important to confirm these exciting findings.”

References:

1 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. 2 Knapen MH, Drummen NE, Smit E,, Vermeer C, Theuwissen E. Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 2013 Sep;24(9):2499-507.

Read More
Show less
Earlier

New Canadian Patent Granted For K2 & Omega-3

Third family of patents NattoPharma has secured globally.
Patents & Grants
|
04 December 2014

NattoPharma ASA has been granted a new Canadian patent (no. 2,657,748: “Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Products Comprising Vitamin K2”). The patent covers pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products providing vitamin K2 in combination with one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids, including fish and/or krill oil, for benefits related to bone, cartilage, and the cardiovascular system.

“This is the third family of patents NattoPharma has secured globally, namely novel use of vitamin K2 in conjunction with omega-3 fatty acids,” says NattoPharma CEO Hogne Vik. “Canada joins Australia, New Zealand, and other markets recognizing vitamin K2’s benefits for bone and cardiovascular health. In this case, vitamin K2’s synergy with fish oil is an added benefit.”

The patent covers the vitamin K2 class of compounds MK-7, MK-8, MK-9, and MK-10, in particular MK-7. The polyunsaturated fatty acid is a combination of EPA and DHA in purified form or as a marine oil (i.e., fish and/or krill oil), including their triglycerides or ethyl esters. The said pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product is to be formulated for oral administration.

“NattoPharma is continuing to build our IP internationally,” continues Vik, “and we are currently in conversations with leading omega-3 companies to commercialize this technology.”

Vik says that NattoPharma has invested considerable resources in technology development and patenting around vitamin K2, and that the company is actively using and will use patents—through patent life—as a competitive advantage for companies that buy vitamin K2 from NattoPharma.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® K2 Launched in Australia/New Zealand

Major market penetration kicks off with leading brands.
Company Initiatives
|
25 October 2014

NattoPharma ASA, world leader in vitamin K2 research and development, in collaboratin with Complementary Medicines Group (CMG) Australia, announces successful penetration into the Australian and New Zealand markets, including supplying major Sponsor brands.

This collaboration has resulted in exciting developments. First, Blackmores, Australia’s leading natural health brand, will utilize NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 in a soon-to-be-released product that will be sold both online and through brick-and-mortar stores across Australia. BioCeuticals, supplier of high-quality practitioner-specific nutritional and therapeutic supplements, has also signed on to use its MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 in an upcoming product.

In addition, another new product concept has already been released: Essential Nutrition Vitamin K2, a standalone bone health product featuring NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, the only clinically validated and patented vitamin K2 as MK-7. The product is currently being sold online at www.essentialnutrition.net.au, and it will in November 2014 be sold exclusively through Go Vita, a 150-store retail natural products chain.

“Bone health is a serious concern, and the introduction of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 to the Australian and New Zealand markets has been significant. We are energized,” says Craig Fallshaw, CMG Founder. “It is so validating to bring the only clinically validated, patented vitamin K2 as MK-7 to these markets.” In close collaboration with NattoPharma ASA, CMG has leveraged relationships to bring the current product offering to market, as well as other opportunities for future products, and increase awareness of this important bone health ingredient. Most recently, CMG was a sponsor of the Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) National Conference and 15th Annual Awards Dinner on October 30, 2014, where it was named the 2014 Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year.

“We are very pleased to make significant progress in Australia and New Zealand introducing our proprietary, patented, and clinically proven MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7,” says Hogne Vik, CEO of NattoPharma ASA. “We look forward to a long and successful relationship with CMG and its partner groups.”

About CMG
Complementary Medicines Group (CMG) is a service provider to the complementary medicine, food and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals industries. Offering raw materials, contract manufacturing, and marketing services, CMG was named the Complementary Medicines Australia 2011 Manufacturer, Wholesaler, or Distributor of the Year, and the 2014 Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year. For more information, visit cmgrouponline.com/au

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Successfully Expands US Patent Application

Secures unique market position for food products containing K2.
Patents & Grants
|
24 October 2014

NattoPharma has been approved and patented a continuation for the current patent (no. 8,354,129: “Vitamin K2 Containing Food product”). The original patent was approved in January 2013, but has been further strengthened by the approval of patent no. 8,728,553 (“ex‐Unilever”) re. “Vitamin Containing Product.”

“The new patent provides NattoPharma a patented exclusive right to tell users of vitamin K2 that supplements and foods containing 5 to 5,000 mcg (micrograms) of vitamin K2 per 100 grams of product have positive health effects,” says NattoPharma CEO Hogne Vik. “While we have only had ‘exclusive rights’ for such claims for amounts from 5 to 200 mcg of vitamin K2 per 100 grams of product, almost every vitamin K2‐enriched food product and dietary supplement in the United States will be covered by NattoPharma’s patent continuation, which gives us a unique market position.”

According to Vik, there are an increasing number of finished products and supplements containing vitamin K2 in the American market, and these products are recommended to maintain, optimize, enhance, and safeguard the health of an individual’s heart and blood vessels. “Only products containing vitamin K2 (in amounts of from 5 to 5,000 mcg per 100 grams) purchased from NattoPharma have the legal right to make such health claims,” he continues. “The approval of the patent is an important milestone for NattoPharma and our partners in the United States, as it will further strengthen NattoPharma’s global patent platform and the competitive position in the United States.”

Vik says that NattoPharma has invested considerable resources in technology development and patenting around vitamin K2, and that the company is actively using and will use patents—through patent life—as a competitive advantage for companies that buy vitamin K2 from NattoPharma.

Read More
Show less

MenaQ7® PURE Distribution Through Glanbia Nutritionals

Exclusive distribution agreement enhances NattoPharma’s US presence.
Company Initiatives
|
26 August 2014

NattoPharma ASA has formed an exclusive distribution agreement with Glanbia Nutritionals, whereby NattoPharma`s new ingredient, MenaQ7 PURE, will be distributed throughout the U.S and Canada.
A division of Glanbia plc, an international nutritional solutions and cheese group headquartered in Ireland, Glanbia Nutritionals manufactures and sells nutritional and functional ingredient solutions to the food, beverage, supplement and animal nutrition industries.

“MenaQ7 PURE is the newest offering to Glanbia Nutritionals`arsenal of unique, proprietary, branded, clinically substantiated and validated ingredients” said Hogne Vik, CEO of NattoPharma. ” The market for vitamin K2 as MK-7 is clearly expanding as the scientific evidence of its ability to promote bone and cardiovascular health continues to accumulate. As Vitamin K2 awareness has been rapidly growing, NattoPharma has been fielding an influx of inquiries. Glanbia Nutritionals` broad and deep customer base will benefite from this vital new offering, which will further enhance NattoPharma`s U.S presence”.

Read More
Show less

NattoPharma Strong Presence at Vitafoods Geneva

New booth, exhibitor presentation highlights MenaQ7® as standout K2.
Company Initiatives
|
09 May 2014

On May 6-8 2014 the leading nutraceuticals trade show in Europe—Vitafoods—took place in Geneva, Switzerland, and Nattopharma exhibited, showcasing MenaQ7® at its newly designed booth.

One of the most important events in the dietary supplements branch of business, the event attracted producers of functional food, nutrients and dietary supplements, as well as raw material suppliers from all over the world. Companies from 92 countries participated in this year’s event, totally more than 10,000 people.

The exhibition was accompanied by a scientific conference featuring discussion panels and sponsored lectures, and NattoPharma CEO Hogne Vik offered well-attended presentations on MenaQ7 at the Exhibitor Presentation Theater and the Vitafoods Europe Conference.

This is the eighth consecutive year that NattoPharma participated in this important event, but this year the company exceeded expectation with a bigger (30m2), redesigned, and better-situated booth than previous years—creating more traffic than it has ever enjoyed in the past. According to NattoPharma, the bigger, refreshed exhibit stand was very well received.

Observations from Vitafoods include:
• Awareness and knowledge of Vitamin K2 has increased during the last couple of years;
• More buzz on Vitamin K2 as NattoPharma’s partners like Gelpell and EuroPharma Alliance showcased their solutions with MenaQ7;
• Companies currently offering calcium/Vitamin D3 consumer products expressed significant interest in including Vitamin K2 in their formulations; and
• Visitors’ feedback was very positive—they were impressed by MenaQ7’s documentation, as it is the only clinically documented Vitamin K2 currently available on the market.

Video of the event is available at http://www.vitafoods.eu.com.

Read More
Show less

Media Inquiries

  • Kate Quackenbush
  • Communications Director
  • +1 609-454-2992 x 220
  • kate.quackenbush@nattopharma.com

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor

NattoPharma
  • Mission & Purpose
  • K2 Timeline
  • Management Team
  • K2 Science
  • K2 in Numbers
  • Mission & Purpose
  • K2 Timeline
  • Management Team
  • K2 Science
  • K2 in Numbers
MenaQ7®️
  • Why MenaQ7®️
  • Quality Statement
  • Benefits
  • Partner Benefits
News & Events
  • News & Press
  • Event Calendar
Contact Us

Let's improve health!

How can we help?
  • Oslo, Norway (Main)
  • New Jersey, USA
  • Contact Us
© Copyright 2022 NattoPharma.
All rights reserved

We value your privacy

We access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may click to refuse to consent or access more detailed information and change your preferences before consenting.

Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences at any time by returning to this site or visit our privacy policy.

Agree
Disagree