In older adults, supplementing with a vitamin K2 as MK-7 ingredient marketed by Balchem as K2Vital appeared to support improved neuromuscular signaling in a recent placebo-controlled study. The findings were published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

The trial was designed to examine vitamin K2’s effects on post-exercise muscle recovery in healthy younger and older adults (35 adults between the ages of 18 and 40, and 36 adults 65 and older). Participants took either 240 micrograms of K2Vital per day or a placebo for 12 weeks. They took part in an exercise protocol before and after treatment, followed by assessments of muscle strength, soreness, and function, and blood tests for biomarkers of muscle damage and inflammation.

A subgroup analysis of the older participants, aged 65 and up, revealed age-specific effects on post-exercise muscle control that called for further research.

This cohort showed improved neuromuscular signaling, which supports the nerve-muscle communication that helps maintain muscle control. These effects were not observed in the placebo group, suggesting that vitamin K2 may support neuromuscular activation and signaling in older adults after exercise.

“We’re proud to have supported this investigation by providing our patented, typically 99.7% all-trans K2 MK-7 ingredient K2Vital for this study,” said Dominik Mattern, vice president of science, business development, and marketing for Balchem Human Nutrition and Health. “Vitamin K2 is already well-recognized for its established benefits in cardiovascular and bone health, making it a strong foundational nutrient for healthy aging formulations. These findings open the door to further exploration that may expand scientific understanding of how vitamin K2 contributes to healthy aging across multiple areas.”