Gnosis by Lesaffre partners with NattoPharma
The Norwegian nutraceutical company NattoPharma has been at the forefront of Vitamin K2 research and marketing since 2004. The brand MenaQ7® K2 is known globally for its health benefits, including bone support and improved cardiovascular health, with more than 20 published clinical trials in just eight years! In 2021, Lesaffre, the parent company of Gnosis by Lesaffre, acquired all shares of NattoPharma to accelerate research and further explore K2 benefits, positioning itself as the true global leader in Vitamin K2, with a full range of products meeting all customer needs across the global market.
Gnosis by Lesaffre’s vitaMK7® and NattoPharma’s MenaQ7® solutions have been part of nutraceutical formulations for more than 10 years. Gnosis by Lesaffre and NattoPharma joined efforts in 2021. This acquisition was a perfect match as both groups share the foundational values of clinically validated science, high purity, and unrivaled product quality. NattoPharma led the supplement industry as the world leader in Vitamin K2 research and development for more than 15 years in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Today, Gnosis by Lesaffre offers its customers not only the most comprehensive naturally fermented Vitamin K2 portfolio, in the form of menaquinone-7, but also in various dilutions and solubilities, with gluten-free and allergen-free options.
Why is vitamin k2 so important for cardiovascular health?
Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient that helps the body direct calcium properly to support bone and cardiovascular health, but the modern diet does not include enough of it. Only a few foods are naturally high in vitamin K2, such as natto, a Japanese fermented soybean dish, and because these are not a regular part of most diets in Western Countries, intake often falls short for healthy bones. As a result, regular use of a dietary supplement is often necessary.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard to build the category to the opportunity that it is today. We have no intention of slowing down. Our business has accelerated, ensuring that Vitamin K2 is no longer a small niche ingredient, but very much part of the mainstream and available for every consumer.”
Marc Philouze, General Manager of Gnosis by Lesaffre
NattoPharma: The worldwide vitamin k2 expert
NattoPharma is the exclusive supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (menaquinone-7), an active form with a clearly defined activity profile, international patents, and clinical substantiation for safe and efficacious health benefits. The company has an extensive multi-year research and development program to substantiate and discover the health benefits of Vitamin K2 for applications such as functional food and dietary supplements.
Today’s K2 understanding is the result of NattoPharma’s efforts. The hard work and dedication have resulted in significant advances in human health and quality of life. More than 20 clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals demonstrate the benefits of MenaQ7® and confirm the brand’s efficacy. MenaQ7® is now the premium Vitamin K2 as MK-7 brand offered by Gnosis by Lesaffre.
The milestones in Vitamin K2 research and development include:
- In 2009, the British Journal of Nutrition published the first child-specific study showing MenaQ7® K2 as MK-7 improved bone health.1
- In 2012, the British Journal of Nutrition published a dose-finding and safety study on MenaQ7® vitamin K2 as MK-7.2
- In 2013, Osteoporosis International published a new 3-year study demonstrating the positive impact of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 (MK-7, menaquinone-7) on bone health.3
- In 2015, Thrombosis and Haemostasis published a new 3-year study showing the positive impact of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 on cardiovascular health through its improvement of arterial flexibility, supporting the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk.4
- In 2018, NattoPharma announced it was spearheading an effort to establish a K2-specific recommended dietary intake (RDI) to help the global population address their K2 deficiencies. To date, there is no officially assigned daily value (DV) for Vitamin K2, making it even harder for consumers to understand how much K2 they need each day. Since the announcement, NattoPharma research partners have published 7 papers identifying the distinct need and clinical support in healthy populations, making a strong argument that K2 requires its own RDI.5,6,
- In 2020, Vascular Diseases and Therapeutics published a new 1-year cardiovascular study showing MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7 improved vascular health and blood vessel function in men and women with poor Vitamin K status.7
- In 2020, NattoPharma renewed its long-standing research relationship with the University of Maastricht, the distinguished group that continues to lead the exploration of K2 discovery and its role in improving human health.8, 9
Gnosis By Lesaffre and NattoPharma: Your guide to new vitamin k2 horizons
Gnosis by Lesaffre has been a leading player in the biofermentation industry for over 15 years – and part of a group with more than 170 years in fermentation – and currently employs more than 400 people across various countries (France, Italy, Switzerland, USA, China, and Singapore). The integration of NattoPharma allowed our business unit to strengthen its global presence while further expanding access to natural Vitamin K2 through high-quality, allergen-free solutions for global markets. Our mission is to make sure wherever consumers are, there is Vitamin K2.
By joining our forces and combining our expertise, we’re now at the forefront of clinical validation, actualizing new categories, helping customers achieve new product goals, and making better ingredients accessible to the world at large for an active consumer base. We’re an unquestioned key player in research and development, backed by long-standing relationships with leading researchers and validation from numerous clinical studies, with active ingredient support as a one-stop shop.
References:
- Van Summeren M. et al. ‘The effect of menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) supplementation on osteocalcin carboxylation in healthy prepubertal children’, 2009
- Theuwissen E. et al. ‘Low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation improved extra-hepatic vitamin K status, but had no effect on thrombin generation in healthy subjects’, 2014
- Knapen M. et al. ‘Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women’, 2013
- Knapen M. et al. ‘Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial’, 2015
- https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2018/06/06/Nattopharma-spearheads-effort-to-establish-RDI-for-vitamin-K2/
- https://www.nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/news/article_page/Vitamin_K2_RDI_programme_sprearheaded_by_NattoPharma/143478
- Vermeer C. & Vik H. ‘Effect of Menaquinone-7 (vitamin K2) on vascular elasticity in healthy subjects: results from a one-year study’, 2020
- https://www.nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/news/article_page/Nattopharma_and_%E2%80%8BUniversity_of_Maastricht_renew_partnership/172360
- https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/9472-nattopharma-renews-commitment-with-university-of-maastricht
MenaQ7®: Natural, pure, clinically validated and European-produced vitamin k2
MenaQ7® is the optimal, bioavailable 99.8% all-trans Vitamin K2 as MK-7, produced in the only European plant that manufactures K2 by natural fermentation, under the highest quality standards and sustainability measures. It is intended for adults as a dietary supplement ingredient and is not intended to treat disease. It is also free from gluten. With 22+ clinical studies, MenaQ7® guarantees innovative products deliver the health benefits promised.
