Gnosis has reported that its vitamin K2 ingredient, MenaQ7, has gained what researchers describe as its strongest cardiovascular clinical evidence to date.
The two-year, placebo-controlled study, published in JAMA Cardiology, investigated the effect of menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation on the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC), an imaging-based marker widely used to assess atherosclerotic burden and cardiovascular risk, in patients with coronary artery disease.
According to the findings, supplementation with MK-7 was associated with approximately 29% lower progression of CAC compared with placebo in a 24-month period. A similar trend was observed for calcium mass, with reductions of around 42% in the intervention group versus placebo.
CAC was assessed using computed tomography and quantified using the Agatston score, a standard clinical measure of coronary calcification progression.
CAC indicates hardened plaque buildup in the heart's arteries, making them stiffer and less able to expand and contract. It acts as a major indicator of atherosclerosis and a significant risk factor for cardiovascular issues.
According to the authors of the trial, arterial calcification results from an imbalance in the regulatory mechanisms of calcification. An important inhibitor of calcification is vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein (MGP).
Previous research has shown that reduced vitamin K status is associated with increased levels of inactive MGP and enhanced vascular calcification, while vitamin K2 supplementation may support MGP activation.
Lead investigator Professor Leon Schurgers of Maastricht University noted that inhibition of the vitamin K cycle has been linked to increased vascular calcification in both preclinical and clinical settings.
"This led us to hypothesise that supplementation with MK-7 can slow down the progression of CAC," he added.
These new results add to a growing body of evidence exploring the role of vitamin K2 in vascular health, including its relationship with arterial elasticity and blood pressure regulation in selected populations.
CAC is increasingly used as a surrogate marker of “vascular age,” providing a visual and quantitative measure of coronary plaque burden and cardiovascular risk.
Dr Hogne Vik, medical and scientific advisor at Gnosis, said CAC scoring offers important clinical insight into arterial health, while acknowledging that effective interventions targeting vascular calcification remain limited.
This scientific rationale has helped drive continued expert interest in MK-7, including clinical studies in patients with advanced CAC.
Speaking exclusively to Nutraceutical Business Review, Xavier Berger, Global Category Manager, Pure Molecules, with Gnosis by Lesaffre explained the importance of the results.
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