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Researcher Defends Vitamin K2 Doctoral Thesis

Speaker at business conference and presentation. Audience at the

 

PhD candidate supported by a research grant awarded to NattoPharma (now Gnosis by Lesaffre) attains his degree, continues to build evidence of K2 cardiovascular and bone benefits.

 

MARCQ-EN-BAROEUL, FRANCE AND EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ (10 MAR 2022) – PhD candidate Grzegorz Wasilewski defended his thesis on February 22, 2022, at Maastricht University, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), The Netherlands. His work was supported by funding from the Norwegian Research Council and a research grant awarded to NattoPharma ASA (now Gnosis by Lesaffre). 

 

The thesis, “Calcium Paradox – the role of vitamin K in the bone-vascular axis”1, highlighted the published work Wasilewski has done in conjunction with and under the leadership of Prof. Leon Schurgers, Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification and Vice-Chair of Biochemistry at CARIM, Maastricht University. This research includes an important review paper2, an in-vivo study exploring the combination of phosphate binder therapy with vitamin K2 to inhibit vascular calcification in kidney patients3, and an in-vitro study examining the impact of K2 as MK-7 supplementation in osteogenesis4.  

 

“Scientists from Maastricht University have recently shown that combining vitamin K2 with phosphate binder treatment reduces vasculature and cartilage calcification. Additionally, they also discovered a novel role of vitamin K2 in beneficially affecting osteoblast maturation from induced pluripotent stem cells. Their findings might be clinically relevant for chronic kidney disease patients and for those seeking stem-cell therapies,” Wasilwski said in his defense. 

 

“With these discoveries, we are a step closer towards management of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease patients. Using our novel experimental animal model of chronic kidney disease and vitamin K-deficiency demonstrates the beneficial role of combining phosphate binders with vitamin K2 in reducing vascular calcification compared to phosphate binders alone,” he added, noting that future clinical trials are needed to address whether vitamin K2 needs to be implemented in standard treatment therapy with phosphate binders. “Further, we have discovered a novel non-canonical role of vitamin K2 in aiding collagen synthesis in our iPSC model of osteoblast differentiation. Our results are fascinating as it changes the perspective on how MK-7 can impact skeletal disorders as well as paving the way for stem cell-based personalized therapy.” 

 

Since 2004, NattoPharma has worked closely with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of the company’s exclusive vitamin K2 as MK-7 brand MenaQ7®. The research grant awarded to the NattoPharma International Research Network provided 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.  

 

Wasilewski was under the supervision of Prof. Leon Schurgers, a co-leader in the multidisciplinary research project together with Dr. Hogne Vik, Chief Medical officer at NattoPharma (now Gnosis by Lesaffre). This project is emblematic of NattoPharma’s continuation of the multi-year vitamin K2 research partnership with CARIM (as announced in 2020), to which Gnosis by Lesaffre has committed.  

 

“We are honored to have had the opportunity to support this distinguished researcher, and to see him come through this program making a substantial contribution to the argument that Vitamin K2 as MK-7 can indeed change the face of global health,” says Dr. Vik. “This work is so important as we continue to build an unshakeable science-based argument for Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is an essential nutrient worthy of its own Recommended Daily Intake (RDI), but also as a potential therapy for patient populations who express excessive calcification as a symptom of their condition.” 

 

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References: 

1 https://phd-defence.maastrichtuniversity.nl/phd-defence-grzegorz-b-wasilewski-tuesday-22nd-february-2022-1600-cet 

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30805347/ 

3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34718756/ 

4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33585456/ 

 

About Gnosis by Lesaffre 

Gnosis by Lesaffre harnesses the power of microorganisms and biotransformation processes like fermentation to cultivate nutritional actives, probiotics, and nutritional and functional yeasts that benefit human health and wellbeing. The team draws on its focused research and applications capabilities to collaborate with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical brands to develop game-changing products for their customers. 

 

For more information, please contact: 

 

Kate Quackenbush, Communications Director, k.quackenbush@gnosis.lesaffre.com, +1 609-454-2992 x220 

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MenaQ7 study with children

45 mcg per day of vitamin K2 was shown to support the needs of healthy bones in children

Growing Strong Bones

Childhood is the most essential period for developing and building healthy bone mass.
However, research shows children have 8 to 10 times higher levels of inactive osteocalcin, which means they are not optimally building the bone mass they require during this period.[3]

In turn, today we see an increase in low-energy fractures in children. Thankfully there is a way to mitigate this situation.

Studies show that children who have optimal levels of Vitamins K2 and D3 have fewer bone fractures than children with lower status of these two vitamins. [4,5]

MenaQ7® is the only Vitamin K2 on the market proven to benefit bone health in children.

[3] Theuwissen E et al. Food & Function. 2013;5(2):229-34
[4] Popko J et al. Nutrients. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):734.
[5] Karpiński M et al. J Am Coll Nutr. 2017 Jan;36(1):64-71

MenaQ7® study show

180 mcg per day of vitamin K2 maintain bone health in postmenopausal women

Well-Being in Times of Change

It is well recognized that women approaching and going through menopause are prone to develop weaker bones.

During this period, hormonal changes lower oestrogen levels, leading to bone loss and increased fracture risk.

Compromised bone health is estimated to affect 200 million women worldwide. Supporting bone health in women during this period of life is growing in importance, particularly as an ageing population seeks to maintain their quality of life.

The combination of Vitamins K2 and D3 is shown to have a more beneficial effect on this demographic’s bone strength than either vitamin taken alone.[5]

MenaQ7® is the only clinically proven K2 to deliver on the promise of maintaining bone health in postmenopausal women.[2]

[5] Ushiroyama T et al. Maturitas. 202 Mar 25;41(3):211-21.
[2] Knapen MHJ et al. Osteoporos Int. 2013 Sep;24(9):2499-507.

Supporting Mothers for Healthy Babies

Pregnancy is a time of extraordinary change and the WHO estimates 20-30% of pregnant women suffer from some kind of vitamin deficiency. Post-natal supplements are important for many women during this period of their lives to ensure not only their health, but their babies as well.

In particular, pregnant women are advised to increase their calcium levels to support the growing babies’ bone and teeth – and to maintain the mothers own bone mass, which is depleted during pregnancy and nursing.

Research shows that women's bone metabolic status significantly changes over the period between pregnancy and during nursing [6], and as much as 50% of newborns are K deficient. Incorporating Vitamins K2 with D3 in post-natal supplements would benefit both mother and child through their combined optimization of calcium.

[6] Miyamoto T et al. Sci Rep. 2019 May 13;9(1):6787.

MenaQ7® study show

180 mcg per day is beneficial for bone and cardiovascular health.

Do What You Love Longer!

Calcification is believed to be an inevitable and unfortunate result of aging, but studies show that arterial calcification is, in fact, an actively regulated process where Vitamins K2 and D3 play a critical role.

In 2020 the ageing population (people over the age of 65) grew to approximately 727 million. Supporting bone and heart health is vitalto ensure quality of life as we age.

A 2013 study [8] evaluating the cardiovascular effect of Vitamin K2 (MenaQ7®) plus Vitamin D or Vitamin D alone showed more beneficial results when the two nutrients were combined than when D was taken alone.

MenaQ7® is the only clinically Vitamin K2 as MK-7 proven to reduce arterial stiffness in adult populations.[9]

[8] Kurnatowska I et al. Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2015;125(9):631-40.
[9] Knapen MHJ et al. Thromb and Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44.

 

Active Lifestylers

The bone and joint market is still expected to be driven by aging populations, but trends like Healthy Aging and Fitter for Longer open the market for younger demographics. Since 2000, views have drastically evolved about the importance of staying active and the role bone/joint health plays in one’s ability to do so.

Bone fractures are an obvious hindrance to staying active. In fact, every 3rd woman and every 5th man over the age of 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures. It is also worth noting that young female athletes have higher fracture risks than male counterparts.

Knowing the intricate balance between Vitamins D3 and K2, and its combined benefits for bone and heart health, a product that aims to support active lifestylers should incorporate both.

Start supercharging your D3 here