New MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 Study Validates Inflammation Benefits

OSLO, NORWAY and METUCHEN, NJ (May 31, 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.”

To view the new study in the Journal of Medicinal Food, visit:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27200471

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About MenaQ7®

MenaQ7® is the best documented, commercially available vitamin K2 as MK-7 with
guaranteed actives and stability, clinical substantiation, and international
patents granted and pending. MenaQ7® is available in two varieties: natural
vitamin K2 as MK-7 Crystals and nature-identical synthetic vitamin K2 as MK-7
PURE. For more information on the health benefits of MenaQ7, visit menaq7.com.

About NattoPharma

NattoPharma ASA, based in Norway, is the  world’s leader in vitamin K2 research
and development. NattoPharma is the exclusive international supplier of MenaQ7®
Vitamin K2 as MK-7, and 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. With a global
presence, the company established its North American subsidiary, NattoPharma
USA, Inc., in Metuchen, NJ. For more information, visit nattopharma.com.

For more information, please contact:

Kate Quackenbush, Director of Communications

NattoPharma USA, Inc.

Phone: 609-643-0749

E-mail: kate.quackenbush@nattopharma.com