PLT Health Solutions partners with J-Oil Mill’s for vitamin K2 market expansion

31 Mar 2022 --- PLT Health Solutions will be marketing vitamin K2 (MK-7) manufactured by Japan-based J-Oil Mills, in North America. The move aims to expand the vitamin K2 market across the continent, showcasing the menatto brand to target consumer products supporting cardiovascular health, bone health and general health.

Menatto menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is a form of vitamin K2 produced by J-Oil Mills in Tokyo. It is manufactured utilizing a Bacillus subtilis bacterial strain isolated from the traditional Japanese fermented food natto in a natural fermentation technique.

“Working with J-Oil Mills will help bring this ingredient to our broad customer base in the North American market,” says Sid Hulse, vice president of product development at PLT Health Solutions.

As the soy protein in the fermentation substrate is removed during the refining process, vitamin K2 oil is free from the soy allergen declaration on the label.

“Menatto is a good source of vitamin K2 – from the sustainable, clean-label manner in which it is produced to the clinical support package that allows us to explain its benefits,” adds Hulse.

“PLT Health Solutions has been in the vitamin K2 business for almost 20 years and was one of the companies that played a key role in building the North American market. Their scientifically-supported ingredient solutions align with J-Oil Mills,” says Hikaru Asari, an executive expert on food & fine materials.

Menatto’s higher bioavailability
Vitamin K supplements are usually made from vitamin K1 and vitamin K2.

These vitamins can come from plants, such as leafy green vegetables, containing vitamin K1 (phylloquinone or phytonadione) and fromnimal and fermented foods, including vitamin K2 (menaquinone, MK-4 and MK-7).

Menaquinones have a higher bioavailability by nature and K2 accounts for at least 50-60% of the circulating Vitamin K in the human body. Also, vitamin K2 in the MK-7 form is the “most bioavailable” form.Considering the multiple studies conducted on menatto, it is regarded as “the most investigated vitamin K2 on the planet.”

According to PLT, the ingredient has been investigated in ten human clinical trials that access its bioavailability, bone health and cardiovascular health potential.

The bioavailability was proven through studies focused on J-Oil Mills’ MK-7. Menatto has been shown in human clinical trials to have higher bioavailability than MK-4 and more than seven times the bioavailability of vitamin K1, making it the “most bioavailable vitamin K commercially available.”

Investigating bone and cardiovascular health
According to a three-year placebo-controlled study of postmenopausal women, supplementation with a low-dose menatto vitamin K2 helped bind calcium to bones, promoting good bone mineral density. Compared to a placebo, menatto significantly improved vitamin K levels and supported bone mineral density and bone strength.

Also focusing on postmenopausal women, a study found that three years of supplementation with menatto assisted in the maintenance of the correct type of matrix Gla protein in the blood vessel wall, it was possible to sustain healthy blood vessel elasticity. This action may help maintain a healthy blood flow, which is beneficial to cardiovascular health.

A separate study on pre-pubescent children also found menatto vitamin K2 effectively raised blood levels of vitamin K2 compared to placebo and helped assure the right level of carboxylated osteocalcin. This protein governs healthy bone growth.

By Nicole Kerr

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