Vitamin K2 Soars in Global Functional Foods Market

CHICAGOThe use of vitamin K2 in the global functional food market is on the rise, as new product launches containing vitamin K2 have almost doubled (+183%) globally over the past five years, according to new research from Mintel.

Comparatively, the more common vitamin K1 posted healthy, but slower growth (+90%) over the same review period. Considering all food, drink, vitamin and supplements launches globally containing either vitamin K1 or K2, vitamin K1 was used in the overwhelming 96% of products, with the remaining 4% containing vitamin K2.

Vitamin K1 has a relatively short half-life and is cleared by the liver within eight hours," said Laura Jones, Mintel global food science analyst. "In comparison, vitamin K2 has a longer half-life of up to 72 hours, meaning it remains biologically active in the body for longer. Vitamin K2 is also absorbed better by the body compared with vitamin K1. These factors, along with the additional health benefits linked to vitamin K2, should encourage the use of vitamin K2 over K1 when trying to correct vitamin K deficiency."

Within recent food and drink launches containing vitamin K2, the most active categories are vitamins and dietary supplements, which accounted for the majority (76%) of new product launches globally in 2012, followed by baby formula (6%), beverage mixes (6%), flavored milk (6%) and soy-based drinks (6%). This year vitamins and dietary supplements are still the most popular launches with K2 (58%), while research has recorded a higher penetration of soy-based drinks (25%), drinking yogurts and cultured milk (8%).

Vitamins and supplements continue to be the largest category in which vitamin K2 is used," Jones said. "However, ongoing research and ingredient companies promotion of vitamin K2 as a health ingredient will likely assist its uptake in more food and beverages. And while vitamin K2 has been traditionally associated with cardiovascular and bone health, its role could extend beyond these features with its growing list of health benefits such as a role in sports nutrition and possibly in the prevention of cancer."

Overall, the use of cardiovascular and bone health claims is growing globally, with food and drink products holding bone health claims almost tripling in the past five years (+330%) and cardiovascular claims posting a healthy 66% growth over the past five years. Vitamin K2 proved a viable supplement for bone health in a 3-year clinical trial where studies concluded vitamin K2 supplementation provided a statistically significant protection of the most vulnerable bone structures i.e. vertebrae and the hip, and has also been linked to increased bone health in elderly men in women.

Increasing incidence of cardiovascular and osteoporosis issues, will mean bone and cardiovascular claims will continue to be a key focus for functional foods and supplements, with women in particular being the main target for bone health products, due their higher incidence of osteoporosis," Jones said. "The main bone health ingredients will continue to be calcium and vitamin D, but as consumers' awareness of vitamin K2 increases, its prevalence in food and supplements making a bone health claim will increase. Effective cardiovascular ingredients will be sought after too and vitamin K2s potential in cardiovascular health should be highlighted."