The role of vitamin K in bone health is well-established, as is its role as a “coagulation” vitamin (hence its name “K”). However, the role of vitamin K in muscle homeostasis is not well-studied. It is known that vitamin K both stimulates the synthesis of osteocalcin as well as its carboxylation/activation. It is also well-known that osteocalcin has beneficial effects on muscle mass, likely through the stimulation of androgen synthesis in both male and female gonads. However, a direct link between vitamin K and muscle mass/strength has not yet been established. The study below is perhaps the first to establish such link, at least in males. Btw, vitamin K has a known synergistic effect with vitamin D for bone mass/strength, as well as improving insulin sensitivity, and even treating cancer. As such, I would expect the effects of combining vitamin K with vitamin D to be synergistic for muscle mass/strength as well. And last but not least, handgrip strength is one of the most reliable kinetic biomarkers of overall health, as well as a great predictor of longevity and healthspan. This suggests that vitamin K, especially when combined with vitamin D (already proven lifespan and healthspan booster) may be a great supplement to take for warding off the effects of aging and preventing future chronic disease.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1378853/abstract
“…Results: Dietary vitamin K intake was positively associated with skeletal muscle mass in males (β=0.05747, P=0.0204) but not in females. We also revealed a positive association between dietary vitamin K intake and handgrip strength within the range of 0-59.871 µg/d (Pnonlinear=0.049). However, beyond this threshold, increasing vitamin K intake did not cause additional handgrip strength improvements. Conclusions: We provided evidence for a positive relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and skeletal muscle mass in males. Moreover, our study revealed a nonlinear relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and handgrip strength, highlighting an optimal intake range.”
