The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Hello Everyone, and welcome to the latest installment of our VideoBites series, which spotlights innovation and industry leadership across the Nutraceuticals World. I’m Sean Moloughney, Editor of the Nutraceuticals World brand.

Today I’ll be joined by Xavier Berger from Gnosis by Lesaffre, which recently launched a new technology that will allow for the creation of more complex K2 formulations.

Gnosis by Lesaffe is firmly established as the preeminent Vitamin K2 supplier. Not only offering the most comprehensive K2 portfolio on the market, including the clinically validated MenaQ7, but the company has enhanced its vitaMK7 line with the highly anticipated Matrix protective technology. 

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NW: Would you tell us about the importance of Gnosis by Lesaffre’s acquisition of NattoPharma?

Xavier Berger, Global Market Manager, Gnosis by Lesaffre (GBL): Gnosis by Lesaffre and NattoPharma are two vitamin K2 pioneers. Since the beginning, the two companies have been active in the K2 market, essentially building this category.

NattoPharma focused on substantiating vitamin K2, sponsoring all the science and clinical validation that supports the ingredient today. For this reason, MenaQ7® is the only clinically validated vitamin K2 available. And the company actively communicated those discoveries and developments to foster a greater understanding of the importance of K2 for global health.

GBL is committed to continuing these R&D efforts as well as reinforcing education about the health benefits of Vitamin K2, both within the industry and to consumers. We aim to perpetuate the awareness of this essential nutrient, which is still relatively unknown compared to others such as vitamin D.

With GBL and NattoPharma joining forces, we combine the broadest portfolio of Vitamin K2 solutions. And we will continue to innovate with advanced technologies, like the new Matrix technology that we launched at the end of 2021.

NW: Can you also briefly explain the new Gnosis by Lesaffre Matrix technology and the reasoning behind its development?

Berger: Matrix is a proprietary technology developed by Gnosis by Lesaffre R&D teams with two main objectives: 1) to facilitate the success of manufacturers by making it easier to create more complex formulations utilizing vitamin K2, and 2) to open new formulation opportunities.

For the first point, Matrix offers protection of vitamin K2 into the formulation, which is especially important when utilizing minerals. Ensuring stability is sometimes complex and requires managing several parameters like the source of minerals, manufacturing conditions, etc. With Matrix, we eliminate many of these concerns, allowing for a more streamlined process. 

For the second point, the vitamin K2 market is expanding, and our customers are eager to explore new creative and impactful formulations that stand out on crowded shelves. Many new players are entering this growing market (+30% new product launches per year since 2015, according to Innova database). With Matrix, brand owners can explore new ingredient combinations that deliver more health benefits in a single product. At the same time, formulators are not burdened by needing to add additional ingredients to labels that account for the protective technology.


NW: How does this technology differ from other protective technologies and how can we expect it to impact the K2 market?

Berger: Matrix was explicitly developed for vitamin K2; it is not an adaptation of an existing technology previously utilized for other ingredients.

Matrix comes with no coating, no additive, no additional ingredient. It offers the shortest list of ingredients, limited to the active molecule and a carrier.

Further, the Matrix technology will support supplements in traditional formats, such as tablets and capsules, that combine K2 with complex minerals, as well as fostering the penetration of Vitamin K2 in new delivery systems such as ready-to-drink applications like protein or milk powders.

At its core, Matrix offers formulators versatility. Whether they are creating products based on synergistic combinations versus innovative complex formulations, or a traditional format versus a formulation that requires specific delivery technology, Matrix makes it easy to incorporate Vitamin K2. 

NW: Is Matrix exclusive for vitaMK7? Can we expect to see it applied to MenaQ7 as well?

Berger: Matrix is the result of more than 2 years of development and industrialization efforts. Its development started well before integrating MenaQ7 within the GBL K2 portfolio.

That said, while we launched Matrix specifically for use with vitaMK7, we do not see it as an exclusive technology for vitaMK7. Indeed, we are confident that Matrix will be a significant enhancement to MenaQ7 product portfolio. Work is in progress. Stay tuned!

Website: https://gnosisbylesaffre.com/humancare/vitamin-k2/
Email: x.berger@gnosis.lesaffre.com