Ingredient supplier Gnosis by Lesaffre encouraged the industry to review recent clinical evidence showcasing the roles that vitamin K2 and folate have in supporting cardiovascular health.
 
Vitamin K2
 
Human clinical studies have shown that vitamin K2 as MK-7 provides cardiovascular support through a mechanism of action which isn’t available through conventional therapies. Vitamin K2 is evidenced to improve arterial flexibility and elasticity through activating the K-dependent matrix GLA protein (MGP).
 
The Council for Responsible Nutrition acknowledged the substantial clinical evidence showing how vitamin K2 improves heart and bone health and the impact this could have on healthcare costs in its 2023 “Supplements to Savings” report.
 
According to the report, which reviewed several meta-analyses for each nutrient, the expanded targeted use of vitamin K2 by specific populations could reduce coronary artery disease (CAD) events by 15.7%, generating an estimated $9.48 billion in cost savings to the U.S. healthcare system between 2022 and 2030.
 
 A one-year cardiovascular study of Gnosis by Lesaffre’s MenaQ7 vitamin K2 ingredient found that one year of treatment significantly improved elastic properties of vessels and promoted healthy blood pressure in women with increased arterial stiffness. This post-hoc analysis was presented at the European Society of Cardiology in 2023 and will be published later this year.
 
Enrollment has also began for the new multi-center, placebo-controlled, randomized, open-label clinical trial called VIKIPEDIA, which will be the first study to assess whether a high-dose vitamin K2 supplement can improve arterial stiffness, cardiovascular disease, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, and dialysis efficacy in kidney patients. The trial is noteworthy as it will use the highest dose of MenaQ7 in a clinical trial to date, which is one milligram daily.
 
“There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that vitamin K2, especially menaquinone-7, might be the ‘next big thing’ in the battle against vascular calcification,” says Dr. Stefanos Roumeliotis, MD, PhD, Nephrologist at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, lead researcher for the VIKIPEDIA study and new member of the Gnosis by Lesaffre Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee. “As the research grows and focuses on populations with heavy cardiovascular burden, such as chronic kidney disease patients, it is important to note that MenaQ7 K2 as MK-7 by Gnosis by Lessafre is a safe agent with no major side effects and potentially antiatherogenic and nephroprotective properties.”
 
Folate
 
While folate is well-known for fertility and pregnancy, it also plays a role in cardiovascular health, according to new evidence. Folate regulates homocysteine levels, and homocysteine is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
 
A January 2024 meta-analysis found connections between vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin D as potential interventions in mitigating the risk of stroke.
 
In a recent study, researchers explored the association between daily folate intake, compromised cardiovascular health, and all-cause mortality. While the researchers noted more studies are needed, they concluded that daily folate consumption may be beneficial in reducing all-cause CVD mortality of adults with dysglycemica.
 
A 2023 study examined folate’s impact on high blood pressure, showing that inadequate or excessive levels might elevate both cardiovascular and overall health issues in people with hypertension.
 
“Recognized for their role in infant development, folates are now important players in cardiovascular health,” says Luca Tiano, Full Professor of Biochemistry and Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics at the Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy. “Folate’s impact on homocysteine regulation has been linked to a lower risk of stroke, highlighting their significance in promoting overall heart health.”
 
“This underscores the importance of proper folate intake in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system, particularly for individuals with high blood pressure,” adds Jean-Francois Jeanne, Substantiation & Applications Team Manager. “Gnosis by Lesaffre is excited to be at the forefront of helping the global population protect their cardiovascular health with our clinically proven branded ingredients, including MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 and Quatrefolic, the fourth generation of folate.”