In the world of dietary supplements, branded ingredients often serve as premium differentiators, helping companies stand out by showcasing benefits, safety, and efficacy backed by research. These ingredients usually come with a hefty price tag, but the added value they offer through intellectual property and clinical studies makes them highly desirable. However, this distinction can sometimes lead to intense competition, with ingredient companies battling to protect their patents and research.
One of the latest battlegrounds in the supplement industry involves Vitamin K2, particularly the branded MenaQ7 ingredient. This controversy revolves around competing claims regarding the rights to research and the ownership of the ingredient’s benefits.
The Vitamin K2 Backstory
Vitamin K2, unlike the better-known K1, plays a crucial role in bone health and cardiovascular wellness. It helps direct calcium to where it’s needed (the bones) and removes it from areas where it shouldn’t be, like the arteries. This process is vital for preventing conditions such as atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.
For years, NattoPharma led the charge with their MenaQ7-branded vitamin K2, sourcing the ingredient from J-Oil Mills in Japan. The product was introduced to the U.S. market in the mid-2000s and quickly became the standard for research-backed vitamin K2. NattoPharma conducted extensive clinical studies demonstrating the positive effects of MenaQ7 on both bone and cardiovascular health, particularly for postmenopausal women and individuals with age-related vascular stiffening. These studies showed that higher doses of MenaQ7 improved arterial flexibility, reversing some of the damage caused by calcium buildup in the arteries.
In 2021, NattoPharma was acquired by Gnosis by Lesaffre, a major player in the vitamin K2 space, which also produced its own version of the ingredient under the brand name VitaMK7.
A New Player Entering the Market
However, the waters became murky when PLT Health Solutions introduced a new vitamin K2 ingredient branded as Menatto, derived from J-Oil Mills. This ingredient was positioned as a successor to the MenaQ7 line, despite research studies clearly attributing the success of those trials to MenaQ7, specifically provided by NattoPharma. PLT claimed that Menatto was essentially the same as MenaQ7, citing several studies conducted over the past decade, but without providing clear evidence of Menatto’s own unique clinical validation.
This move by PLT raised eyebrows in the industry, with many questioning whether they were “borrowing” the credibility established by MenaQ7 without investing in their own research. Critics, including Gnosis by Lesaffre, pointed out that the scientific studies referenced by PLT specifically cited MenaQ7 as the source ingredient, not Menatto. They argue that using these studies to validate a different product undermines the integrity of the research and damages the value of true innovation in the industry.
The Legal and Ethical Dilemma
The situation is a classic example of what’s known in the industry as “borrowed science.” It’s a practice where companies leverage the hard-earned research and intellectual property of others without paying for it or investing in their own studies. While the practice isn’t always illegal, it raises ethical concerns, especially when it comes to the health and safety of consumers who rely on the efficacy of these ingredients.
NattoPharma quickly responded to PLT’s claims, stressing that the studies involving MenaQ7 were specifically designed to evaluate the effectiveness of that ingredient, not Menatto. Marc Philouze, CEO of Gnosis by Lesaffre, pointed out that this practice could set a dangerous precedent for the industry, as it discourages companies from investing in their own research and development. If companies can market products based on someone else’s research without doing their own legwork, it could stifle innovation and lead to a lack of accountability.
The Future of Vitamin K2
Despite the ongoing ingredient wars, the demand for vitamin K2 continues to grow. The market for bone and cardiovascular health supplements is expanding, and vitamin K2, especially in its MK-7 form, is becoming increasingly popular. As more consumers seek natural ways to support their health, vitamin K2’s benefits are being recognized for their ability to support both bone strength and heart health, making it a crucial ingredient for the future.
Gnosis remains confident about the future of vitamin K2. Philouze sees great potential for expanding the market beyond the natural channel into mainstream products like multivitamins and bone health supplements. With continued research and development, he believes vitamin K2 will become an even more prominent player in the supplement market.
Conclusion
While the competition over branded ingredients like MenaQ7 and Menatto may continue to fuel debates within the industry, the real winner should be consumers who benefit from innovative and well-researched products. As the demand for vitamin K2 grows, it’s essential for brands to ensure transparency, invest in legitimate scientific studies, and focus on providing high-quality, effective products to the market. The ongoing discussions around intellectual property and research rights will shape the future of the industry, but ultimately, it’s the consumers who stand to gain from the continued evolution of vitamin K2 supplementation.
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