NattoPharma Secures U.S. Patent for Vitamin K2 in Heart-Healthy Food

NattoPharma ASA (Oslo, Norway) has obtained a U.S. patent covering the use of vitamin K2 in food products, including dietary supplements, for the purpose of “maintaining, optimizing, strengthening, or promoting cardiovascular health,” the company reports.

NattoPharma says that the patent gives it “broad coverage” in the use of vitamin K2, also known as menaquinones, in these types of products.

“The approval of the patent represents a milestone for NattoPharma and our partners in the U.S. market,” says company CEO Hogne Vik, PhD. “This will strengthen NattoPharma’s global IPR-platform and improve our competitive position in the United States within the food supplement market as well as the functional food market.”

The patent is No. 09/850,804: “Vitamin K2 Containing Food Product.” NattoPharma is the supplier of branded vitamin K2 ingredient MenaQ7.