Search Results for: About
Literature review documents safe use and important health effects of vitamin K2 in child populations, noting consideration for pregnant and nursing women. MARCQ-EN-BAROEUL, FRANCE AND EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ (12 JANUARY 2022) – Children has published an important review paper that documents vitamin K2’s role in various physiological processes, its safe history of use, … Continue reading Vit K2 Impacts Children’s Health, Disease: New Review
Literature review documents safe use and important health effects of vitamin K2 in child populations, noting consideration for pregnant and nursing women.
MARCQ-EN-BAROEUL, FRANCE AND EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ (12 JANUARY 2022) – Children has published an important review paper that documents vitamin K2’s role in various physiological processes, its safe history of use, and that children express the greatest need for K2 supplementation.
The paper, “The Impact of Vitamin K2 (Menaquinones) in Children’s Health and Disease: A Review of the Literature “1, presents a thoughtful organization of data highlighting the differences between vitamins K1 and K2, as well as K2 as menaquinone-4 (MK-4) and as MK-7; factors contributing to the prevalence of K deficiency; and how child populations can benefit from correcting this deficiency, according to Dr. Katarzyna Maresz, president of the International Science and Health Foundation, and co-author to this paper.
“Vitamin K2 activates K-dependent proteins that support many biological functions, including bone mineralization, the inhibition of vascular stiffness, the improvement of endothelial function, the maintenance of strong teeth, brain development, joint health, and optimal body weight,” Dr. Maresz explains. “Due to the transformation of food habits in developed countries over the last five decades, vitamin K and, specifically, vitamin K2 intakes among parents and their offspring have decreased significantly, resulting in serious health implications. The therapeutics used in pediatric practice (antibiotics and glucocorticoids) are also to blame for this situation.”
Dr. Maresz teamed with a nutritionist colleague at Jagiellonian University Medical College to complete the review, in which they discuss K2 as MK-7 supplementation is worth considering for expectant mothers as a means of setting their children on the best path to health. “The lack of adverse effects of MK-7 makes it the ideal choice for supplementation by pregnant and nursing women and children, both healthy and suffering from various malabsorptions and health disorders, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, thalassemia major (TM), cystic fibrosis (CF), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and chronic liver diseases,” the authors write.
“As we continue our pursuit of a K2-specific Recommended Daily Intake (RDI), this review serves as a substantial argument,” says Dr. Hogne Vik, Chief Medical Officer with Gnosis by Lesaffre. “Particularly as it illustrates the overwhelming impact K2 deficiency has on child populations, and it illustrates how parents’ deficiencies feed into the state of their children’s health. We have stressed for more than a decade the impact that Vitamin K2 can have on children’s health. As thrilling as it was to see the first child-specific formulas featuring MenaQ7 K2 hit the market a few years ago, we have so much more to do to improve the health of our children.”
# # #
Reference:
1 Kozioł-Kozakowska, A.; Maresz, K. The Impact of Vitamin K2 (Menaquionones) in Children’s Health and Diseases: A Review of the Literature. Children 2022, 9, 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010078
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
One of the most-recognized and sought-after certifications is « Non-GMO Project Verified ». The good news: If your supplement product features MenaQ7 K2, you have always met this need. Consumers have been asking for Non-GMO transparency for more than two decades. A 2020 survey of 2000 individuals in the US and Canada shows that “USDA Organic” and … Continue reading MenaQ7 K2 Non-GMO Verified … Always
One of the most-recognized and sought-after certifications is « Non-GMO Project Verified ». The good news: If your supplement product features MenaQ7 K2, you have always met this need.
Consumers have been asking for Non-GMO transparency for more than two decades. A 2020 survey of 2000 individuals in the US and Canada shows that “USDA Organic” and “Non-GMO Project Verified” are the most recognizable and sought-after certifications on food products. Further, it has now become all but mandatory in the natural product industry especially as brands prepare to comply with new laws and store policies.
The good news: If your dietary supplement product features MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7, you have always been compliant. If your K2 product has not included MenaQ7, you may want to reconsider your supplier.
Pioneering the K2 Category
While many suppliers are entering the market offering Vitamin K2, MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 started the category when it was first introduced 15 years ago. All the science confirming safe and efficacious bone and heart health benefits used MenaQ7 as the actual source material. Those studies – 22+ to date with more currently underway – were conducted in healthy and patient populations, adults as well as children.
But being a pioneer is not just about driving the clinical evidence; it also meant that MenaQ7 be held to the highest standards, including achieving Non-GMO 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. The complete MenaQ7 line was verified 8 years ago, while the following certifications were also obtained:
• Novel Food Status
• Self-Affirmed GRAS
• Halal
• Kosher
• Suitable for Vegans
• Allergen-free
• Free from Pesticides and Toxins
What Does This Mean For Brand Owners?
Companies that seek to invest to offer the highest quality products must insist their raw material suppliers support their efforts. This means not only ensuring their ingredients are clinically validated, but that they achieve the certifications that will allow finished products to stand out on crowded shelves.
Remember that 2020 consumer survey? Among the 15 certification marks that appear on food products, 63% of consumers recognize USDA Organic and 54% recognize the Non-GMO Project butterfly logo. The next most recognized certification was Gluten-Free (32%) and then Fair Trade (30%).
Choosing MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 means you are one step closer to being able to label your finished product as “Non-GMO,” earning an important and growing faction of consumers’ purchases.
Greek study will use the highest dosage of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 so far, further proof of MenaQ7® K2 safety. Oslo, Norway and East Brunswick, NJ (8 June 2021) – Ex-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 … Continue reading 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.
Oslo, Norway and East Brunswick, NJ (8 June 2021) – Ex-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®, ex-Nattopharma, ASA, Hovik, Norway).
It is important to note, according to Dr. Hogne Vik, Chief Medical Officer with ex-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 ex-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 ex-NattoPharma
As the Vitamin K2 world leader, ex-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 ex-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 ex-NattoPharma R&D team.
A ex-NattoPharma partnership does not end once kilos are delivered. We are invested in your success and positioned to ensure you achieve it.
Our Videos
More Videos About Vitamin K2!
MenaQ7 is featured in quality products around the globe.
Make your Milk Powder as Proactive to Health as Your Consumers Are!
Consumers show a greater interest in functional products and ingredient claims than ever before, as they seek out products that offer a convenient health boost.
62% of consumers in Asia-Pacific identify “Overall Health” as the critical concern resulting from COVID-19.
Fortification is an opportunity for differentiation
Learn more about the most important vitamin consumers may never have heard of!
Adding vitamin K2 to milk powder ensures calcium is guided to building bone and diverted away from soft tissue
MenaQ7®️ K2 is clinically proven to support the needs of healthy bones in children.
Kids – Growing Strong Bones
Clinical research show children taking 45 mcg of MenaQ7® resulted in improved vitamin K status and stronger, denser bones. Milk powder as a delvery format represent an opportunity to mitigate deficency and to support children growing strong bones.
Supporting Bone Health in
Postmenopausal Women
Maintaining the best possible cardiovascular and bone health are two of the most critical areas allowing women to age in a healthy way.
MenaQ7® is the only Vitamin K2 clinically proven to protect bone strength and density in postmenopausal women.
MenaQ7® K2 is clinically proven to support bone and heart health in adults.
MenaQ7® K2 is clinically proven to support bone and heart health in adults.
Vitamin K2 is Key for Healthy Ageing
Being fearful for poor bone and cardiovascular health can be a hindrance for the growing population of senior citizens to engage in activities, travel, and exercise
Calcification is believed to be an unfortunate result of aging, but studies show that arterial calcification is, in fact, an actively regulated process.
MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 taken daily is not only shown to inhibit age-related arterial stiffening but improve vascular elasticity.
Knapen MHJ et al. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 2015; 19;113(5).
The Only Clinically Proven K2 now available in milk powders!
Providing solutions to make Vitamin K2 available in a broader range of finished product dose forms is at the heart of the NattoPharma R&D team.
Vitamin K2 creates synergies for health and is the better together vitamin to supercharge other vital nutrients like vitamin D, Calcium and Omega3 to strengthen solid foundational health across all stages in life.
Adding MenaQ7® K2 to milk powders will ensure calcium is optimally trapped to the bone matrix and away from arteries where it can do harm.
Learn how K2 has Better Together Synergies with vitamin D for bone and cardiovascular health www.menaq7.com/bettertogether
You Have The Questions,
We Have The Answers
Is MenaQ7 compatible in milk powder?
MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 is now offered in a solution developed specifically for milk powder compatibility
- Stability protocol available
- No flavour or odour to interfere with the finished product
Are consumers interested in K2?
NattoPharma has educated the health supplement industry and has all the tools you need to tell the K2 story to consumers, we will show you how!
How do I know vitamin K2 will be bioavailable from dairy?
Study show drinkable yogurt fortified with MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 provided the same bioavailability as supplements.
What about safety and efficacy?
MenaQ7 is proven safe and efficacious in 20+ clinical trials.
Book a K2 Meeting in Your Calendar Today
Copyright Ⓒ 2015 MenaQ7. All Rights Reserved. MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 is a trademark of MattoPharma ASA.
New grant will fund substantiating MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 effect on calcium metabolism The Norwegian Research Council has awarded a grant to ex-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 ex-NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 … Continue reading Norwegian Research Council Grant
New grant will fund substantiating MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 effect on calcium metabolism
The Norwegian Research Council has awarded a grant to ex-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 ex-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.”
Vitamin K2’s role as a cardiovascular supporter
Ex-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, ex-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.