Vitamin K2 for athletes: Balchem partners with FC Bayern Women

Global manufacturer of specialty ingredients for human health and nutrition, as well as the official partner of FC Bayern (FCB) Women’s football team, Balchem, announced in a recent press release that the company has started their first ever direct-to-consumer initiative of highlighting the benefits of vitamin K2 to the fans of FCB.¹ In Munich, Germany, Balchem utilized an exhibition stand at Allianz Arena during the opening game on September 6, 2025, for their K2Vital brand. The recent move was intended to bring consumer awareness of vitamin K2’s health benefits and to also help “bridge the gap” between 2B and B2C markets.¹

K2 Health Vitamins

K2Vital is a patented, 99.7% all-trans K2 MK-7 supplement ingredient. At the FCB women’s football event, 57,762 fans were in attendance, which was a new German record. Balchem also showcased co-branded products of their customer, Natsana, from the Natural Elements brand portfolio.¹ Individuals who visited the booth were able to learn more from Balchem experts regarding the health benefits stemming from the vitamin K2. Visitors experienced the opportunity of taking part in a digital quiz, as well as a game of cornhole to be able to have the chance to win FCB Women co-branded merchandise. Balchem’s booth additionally included a promotion page specialized toward K2Vital which included a discount code to fans for them to learn more about their co-branded Natural Elements product range that includes items, such as capsules, liquid drops, and other solutions that combine vitamin D and K2, helping to provide support for bone health.¹

“When we initiated the partnership with FC Bayern Women, our goal was to educate consumers about vitamin K2 and reinforce the high-quality standards embodied in our K2Vital. The team proved to be the perfect partner – acting as outstanding ambassadors of health with over a billion fans worldwide,” comments Dominik Mattern, VP Science, Business Development and Marketing, Balchem Human Nutrition and Health.¹ “Now, we’re taking the next step by hosting our first-ever direct-to-consumer event and harnessing the value of our branded ingredients to drive differentiation. We are so glad to be able to integrate in this first experience a collaboration with our partner Natsana, creating a mutual opportunity for growth.”

“Women’s sports are gaining popularity, especially football, with a rapidly growing global fanbase. Balchem’s partnership with FC Bayern Munich gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase the co-branded products range to a large, engaged audience,” concludes Mattern.¹ “Featuring a trusted branded ingredient like K2Vital not only strengthens confidence, but also provides a direct path for consumers to purchase our customers’ products - demonstrating how supplier-brand partnerships can deliver tangible business results.”

Long-COVID-19 Sufferers May Find Relief From Symptoms with Vitamins K2 and D3

In a March 2025, press release, global specialty ingredients manufacturer Balchem announced results from a recent clinical trial on the effects of Vitamins K2 MK-7 and D3 on long COVID (LC) symptoms.² As noted in the study’s introduction, there is currently no approved treatment for this condition, which can be associated with fungal translocation, gut dysfunction, and enhanced systemic inflammation, as well as symptoms of post-exertional malaise, fatigue, and brain fog. Also noted was the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamins K2 and D3. Researchers hypothesized that supplementation could help decrease systemic inflammation. The single-site randomized controlled study, “Vitamins K2 and D3 Improve Long COVID, Fungal Translocation, and Inflammation: Randomized Controlled Trial,” was published in Nutrients in January 2025. The vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient provided by Balchem as the patented K2Vital.

“For the first time, in this randomized controlled clinical trial, we investigated the effects of vitamins K2 and D3 on long COVID symptomatology, as well as markers of immune activation and gut function,” stated study author Grace McComsey, MD, FIDSA in the press release.² “We observed a treatment effect of K2/D3 on reducing the long COVID Research Index and total number of symptoms, highlighting the promising impact of vitamin K2/D3 supplementation in attenuating long COVID.”

Results of the study included²:

• At month 6, the active group showed a reduction in scores on the LC index
• There was also reduction in symptoms of smell or taste, pain in any part of the body, persistent cough, post-exertional malaise, and shortness of breath
• In comparison, the SOC group showed an increase in scores on the LC index and no change in the participants who reported more than two symptoms
• The average number of symptoms stayed the same in the active group and increased in the SOC group

“At Balchem, science is at the heart of everything we do and we are dedicated to collaborating with universities and research institutions to drive scientific progress,” stated Trygve Bergeland, director of nutrition science, Balchem Human Nutrition and Health.² “We’re proud that our K2Vital ingredient played a role in this study, and the findings hold great potential for the future.”

References

1. Scoring big with fans: Balchem spotlights the power of vitamin K2 at FC Bayern Women’s season opener https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250918950889/en/Scoring-Big-With-Fans-Balchem-Spotlights-the-Power-of-Vitamin-K2-at-FC-Bayern-Womens-Season-Opener (accessed Sep 22, 2025).
2. McEvoy, E. Study shows vitamins K2 and D3 may help reduce symptoms of long COVID https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/study-shows-vitamins-k2-and-d3-may-help-reduce-symptoms-of-long-covid (accessed Sep 22, 2025).