J-Oil Mills’ fermented vitamin K2 Mentatto obtains trademark for several new markets

02 Dec 2022 --- The US, Japan, Europe and Australia have authorized a status update for J-Oil’s fermented vitamin K2 (MK-7) – branded Menatto – which has received trademark approval for several countries and regions.

The move closely follows PLT Health Solutions’s recent approval from the Non-GMO Project to sell Menatto under this label.

“J-Oil Mills vitamin K2 (MK-7) is the original fermented vitamin K2 and has been incorporated into finished products across the globe for more than 20 years,” says Toshiro Sato, director of the vitamin K2 study group in Japan and senior manager of R&D for J-Oil Mills. 

The company created the ingredient brand name Menatto in 2021.

“Overall, vitamin K2 has gained much attention, and the marketing opportunities are now greater than ever. It has made its way into the mainstream of health-conscious consumers, joining vitamins A, C, E and D in many retail brands,” notes Sato.

Menatto is made from a bacterial strain isolated from the traditional fermented Japanese food “Natto,” derived from soy beans.“Menatto is an authentic Japanese, fully traceable, original fermented Vitamin K2; this is why we created the Menatto tagline, The Japanese Original,” adds Hikaru Asari, section manager of Fine Materials Business, Specialty Food Products Unit for Tokyo at J-Oil Mills. 

Novel food status
Menatto is manufactured in a GMP and ISO 22000-certified facility in Japan and has achieved self-affirmed GRAS and novel food status, allowing for its use in foods and beverages, as well as conventional tablets, capsules and gummies. 

Menatto is also available as vitamin K2 (MK-7) Oil 1500 and as vitamin K2 (MK-7) Powder 1000/2000.

Some of the country’s most respected scientists have researched the company’s ingredient in Japan.

In addition, Menatto K2 (MK-7) M1500 and P2000 have been evaluated by a third-party technical administrator and meet the Non-GMO Project’s Standard for GMO avoidance.

”The ingredient is backed by ten human clinical trials published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and includes a suite of intellectual property, consisting of three international product usage patents and a Japanese process patent and trademarks,” Asari notes.

Boost for health
Several condition-specific uses are supported by original research, including bone health, heart health, joint health, hair/skin/nails improvement and healthy blood coagulation. 

This month, new cardiovascular research presented by the Odense University Hospital in Denmark at the European Society of Cardiology Congress found a link between vitamin K2 and D supplementation that reduces heart attack risks.

Meanwhile, other research on the vitamin found that it can help with cellular degradation and even treat Alzheimer’s. 

Edited by Elizabeth Green