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Improving K2 status may significantly benefit arterial stiffening and calcification, reducing cardiovascular complications.
Improving K2 status may significantly benefit arterial stiffening and calcification, reducing cardiovascular complications.
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 role of pulse wave velocity measurements
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 ex-NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hogne Vik.
Vitamin K and cardiovascular health
“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.
A 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 … Continue reading Study suggests MenaQ7® Shown Again to Inhibit Arterial Hardening
A 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 ex-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 ex-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.
Improving subclinical K deficiency and arterial stiffness
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.
“Ex-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.
Protocol shows Vitamin K2 treatment on imaging measurement of existing calcification. Ex-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® … Continue reading MenaQ7® Aortic Calcification Human Study Protocol
Protocol shows Vitamin K2 treatment on imaging measurement of existing calcification.
Ex-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.”
A possibility to regress calcification
“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, ex-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 ex-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.
Breakthrough heart study proves MenaQ7® K2 cardiovascular benefits 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 … Continue reading MenaQ7® 3-Year Cardiovascular Study
Breakthrough heart study proves MenaQ7® K2 cardiovascular benefits
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].
Improvements in heart and bone health
“Both studies are significant because they are long-term – three years of participation and then examination of the results,” said Hogne Vik, ex-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.
Major market penetration kicks off with leading brands Ex-NattoPharma ASA, world leader in vitamin K2 research and development, in collaboratoin 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 … Continue reading MenaQ7® K2 Launched in Australia/New Zealand
Major market penetration kicks off with leading brands
Ex-NattoPharma ASA, world leader in vitamin K2 research and development, in collaboratoin 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 ex-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.
Another product concept released
In addition, another new product concept has already been released: Essential Nutrition Vitamin K2, a standalone bone health product featuring ex-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 ex-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 ex-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
Ex-NattoPharma Introducing the first and only full-spectrum Vitamin K2 that provides MK-6, 7, 8 & 9 Ex-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 … Continue reading MenaQ7® Full Spectrum K2 to Launch at SSW
Ex-NattoPharma Introducing the first and only full-spectrum Vitamin K2 that provides MK-6, 7, 8 & 9
Ex-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.
“Ex-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 ex-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, ex-NattoPharma has once again broken the mold and offers to the market a raw material that delivers the range of menaquinones found in foods.”
Full-spectrum and suitable for all
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.
“Ex-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 ex-NattoPharma’s SupplySide West booth P115.