The patent (No. 9,364,447 re. “Compositions for treating or preventing cardiovascular disease”) covers providing an effective amount of vitamin K2 in combination with vitamin D to reduce the incidence of age-related stiffening of arteries in doses appropriate to dietary supplement ranges, as well as food and beverage products. Nattopharma was granted the patent today.
Nattopharma’s ingredient, called MenaQ7, is the menaquinone-7 form of vitamin K2. The company has developed a science suite behind the ingredient supporting its activity in mobilizing calcium from the blood stream and into the bones, providing both a bone health and cardiovascular health positioning for the ingredient. Calcium forms the majority of arterial plaques, and one of the purported modes of action for the accumulation of these plaques is ample calcium in the absence of enough K2, which inhibits the timely deposition of calcium into the bones.
“Being awarded this patent clearly validates the discovery of the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin K2 made by the researchers with whom NattoPharma has had pleasure of working with for years,” said NattoPharma CEO Daniel Rosenbaum. “The issuing of this patent further legitimizes the clinical benefits that show the cardio- protective benefits vitamin K2 delivers by even reversing age-related hardening of the arteries.”