Vitamin K2 did not show better recovery on main exercise outcomes
A placebo-controlled trial found no overall improvement in strength, function, soreness, or inflammatory responses, despite some age-related muscle and blood-marker signals.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
This abstract-based trial did not show that vitamin K2 improved strength, physical function, soreness, or inflammatory responses during recovery from muscle-damaging exercise. Some measures of muscle activation and blood markers varied with age and treatment, but those signals did not establish better recovery in older adults. They warrant further investigation.
The abstract gives no effect sizes or confidence intervals for the main recovery outcomes. Age-related marker differences had unclear patterns and do not establish a functional benefit.
What researchers found
Strength, physical function, and muscle soreness
Vitamin K2 versus placebo after 12 weeks of supplementation; recovery assessments extended to 72 h postexercise. Effect sizes and confidence intervals were not reported.
Blood levels rose
Supplementation increased circulating levels of the supplied vitamin form, confirming a blood-level change. That measured increase did not translate into a demonstrated improvement in the main recovery outcomes.
Age-related signals need follow-up
Older adults showed differences in measures of muscle activation, alongside age-dependent blood-marker results. The authors reported no clear overall pattern for the inflammatory and muscle-damage markers, despite an isolated later difference.
The original publication
The Effects of Vitamin K2 on Recovery from Muscle-Damaging Resistance Exercise in Young and Older Adults: The TAKEOVER Randomized Controlled Trial.
Lithgow H, Johnston L, Ho F et al.
Med Sci Sports Exerc · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41843412
- Record checked
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