Vitamin K2 is well known for its role in supporting bone and heart health, critical pillars of an active lifestyle.1,2 However, recent quality concerns have shaken the vitamin K2 market, making ingredient choice crucial. At Vitafoods Europe, Balchem will showcase how K2VITAL™ can help brands confidently support active consumers.
Vitamin K2 for bone and heart health
Vitamin K2 works hand-in-hand with vitamin D to deposit calcium into the bones, supporting their strength.3,4,5,6 It also promotes blood vessel function2 and production of ATP, the primary energy carrier body cells and muscles rely on.7,8 Balchem is committed to raising awareness of these benefits, as demonstrated by its partnership with FC Bayern Women, one of the most successful women’s football teams in the world. Through this partnership, Balchem can tap into the FC Bayern team’s strong social media presence to spotlight vitamin K2’s essential role in bone and heart health.
Quality concerns shake the vitamin K2 market
Despite its many benefits, not all K2 products meet their label claim. Together with Alkemist Labs – an ISO-accredited natural product testing laboratory – we’ve discovered that out of 38 vitamin K2 supplements tested, only 29% met MK-7 content and isomeric purity standards. This is because vitamin K2 is highly sensitive and can degrade rapidly in certain conditions or when combined with other ingredients.
The solution? K2 done right.
At Balchem, we understand the urgency of raising quality standards in the vitamin K2 space, which is why we are leading the change. Our all-trans bioactive form of vitamin K2 MK-7, K2VITAL™, offers typically 99.7% isomeric purity. And with even greater stability, K2VITAL™ DELTA – the world’s only patented double-microencapsulated K2 – works across a range of popular delivery forms like gummies and in combination with minerals. With K2VITAL™ DELTA, brands can unlock endless formulation possibilities to create innovative products for today’s active consumers.
Ready to raise the bar in the K2 market? Meet Balchem at Vitafoods Europe – stand 3G30 – to discover how.
¹ Myneni, V. D., & Mezey, E. (2017). Regulation of bone remodeling by vitamin K2. Oral Diseases, 23(8), 1021–1028.
² Hariri E et al. (2021). Vitamin K2—a neglected player in cardiovascular health: a narrative review. Open Heart, 8(2).
³ Theuwissen E. Br J Nutr 2012, Vol. 108, Issue 9, Pages 1652–7.
⁴ National Institutes of Health. Vitamin K Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available at https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-HealthProfessional/
⁵ Mandatori D et al. Nutrients 2021, Vol. 13, Issue 4.
⁶ van Ballegooijen AJ et al. (2017). The synergistic interplay between vitamins D and K for bone and cardiovascular health: a narrative review. Int J Endocrinol, 2017:7454376.
⁷ Vos M, Esposito G, Edirisinghe JN, et al. (2012). Vitamin K2 is a mitochondrial electron carrier that rescues PINK1 deficiency. Science, 336:1306–10.
⁸ Rønning SB, Pedersen ME, Berg RS, Kirkhus B, Rødbotten R (2018). Vitamin K2 improves proliferation and migration of bovine skeletal muscle cells in vitro. PLoS ONE, 13(4): e0195432.