First Vitamin K2 Medical Food

NattoPharma (Oslo, Norway) reports that its MenaQ7 vitamin K₂ crystals are part of a first-ever vitamin K₂ medical food. The product, called Fosteum PLUS, is available from Primus Pharmaceuticals.

Vitamin K₂ is increasingly used in dietary supplements and functional foods aimed at bone health. The ingredient appears to activate a protein called osteocalcin, which helps deliver calcium from the blood to the bones. At this point in time, vitamin K₂ remains less popular than other bone ingredients such as vitamin D and calcium, but penetration into the highly regulated medical foods market can improve the standing of vitamin K₂.

Fosteum PLUS is formulated with several bone health nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, phosphate, and a high-purity version of the MenaQ7 crystals. The product is intended for managing issues of osteopenia and osteoporosis, and it is available only through a physician’s prescription.