Vitamin K2 MK7: New Potential of Vitamin K2 (MK-7) for Pain Reduction in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are common fractures in patients with osteoporosis. They can cause severe pain and limited mobility and may also lead to spinal deformity and an increased risk of subsequent fractures.

A recent retrospective, multi-center comparative cohort study evaluated the clinical outcomes of of a nutritional supplement containing vitamin K2 (MK-7), vitamin D3, and activated silicium, an oral food supplement containing bio-activated silicium and vitamins D3 and K2, as an adjunct to the conservative management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

1. Study Design

The study compared the six-month outcomes of patients with OVCFs who received standard conservative management alone with those who received standard conservative management supplemented with vitamin K2 (MK-7), vitamin D3, and activated silicium.

Study population: 38 patients with OVCFs (19 control patients, 19 supplementation group )
Basic treatment: Standard conservative management in both groups
Additional treatment: Nutritional supplement containing vitamin K2 (MK-7), vitamin D3, and activated silicium
Treatment period: 6 months
Dosage: 2 capsules daily for the first 2 months, followed by 1 capsule daily for 4 months
Key components per capsule: Activated silicium +Vit D3 + Vit K2 MK7
Evaluation: Pain intensity (NRS), analgesic use, bone marrow edema, adverse events, etc., assessed at baseline, 2 months, and 6 months.

2. Supplementation group Showed Positive Results for Pain Reduction in OVCF Patients

2-1. Pain Reduction — Significant Improvement in NRS Scores

ASSESSMENT supplementation group CONTROL GROUP
Baseline NRS 8.26±0.99 8.26±0.93
NRS at 6 months 2.05 ± 2.17 3.84 ± 2.83
Change from baseline −6.21 ± 1.90 −4.42 ± 2.12

At six months, the supplementation group showed a significantly lower NRS pain score than the control group. The reduction in NRS from baseline was also significantly greater in the supplementation group .

These results suggest that the supplement containing vitamin K2 (MK-7), vitamin D3, and activated silicium may provide additional benefits for pain reduction when used as an adjunct to conservative management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

2-2. Changes in Analgesic Use — Favorable Trend Toward Reduced Analgesic Burden

Analgesic Use supplementation group Control Group
Complete
discontinuation
68.40% 36.80%
Regular use 10.50% 21.10%

The supplementation group showed a higher proportion of patients who discontinued analgesics and a lower proportion who continued regular analgesic use.

Although the difference was not statistically significant, the results indicated a favorable trend toward reduced analgesic use in the supplementation group.

3. How May Vitamin K2 (MK-7) Be Related to Pain and Bone Health?

Vitamin K2 (MK-7) is not a direct analgesic. Instead, it plays an important role in bone metabolism and mineralization.

Osteocalcin carboxylation: Vitamin K2 is involved in the γ-carboxylation of osteocalcin, supporting its calcium-binding function and bone mineralization.
Inhibition of Osteoclast Differentiation (Antiresorptive Effect): Vitamin K2 may increase osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression and inhibit NF-κB activation, thereby suppressing RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation and potentially reducing bone resorption and bone loss.
Support for fracture recovery: Rather than exerting a direct analgesic effect, vitamin K2 may support normal bone metabolism and create a favorable environment for bone recovery, which may ultimately have a positive effect on pain relief after fracture.

4. New Potential of Vitamin K2 (MK-7) in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture Recovery

The key finding of this study was that the addition of a nutritional supplement containing vitamin K2 (MK-7), vitamin D3, and activated silicium to standard conservative management was associated with a significantly greater reduction in pain after six months in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

The supplementation group also showed favorable trends in:

Analgesic discontinuation
Marrow edema improvement
Vertebral compression stability

This study provides new clinical evidence suggesting the potential role of combined nutritional supplementation containing MK-7 in supporting bone health management in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

[Reference]

Gazzeri R, Galarza M, Occhigrossi F, Carulli C, Telera S, Mosca J, Leoni MLG. Oral Food Supplement with Bio-Activated Silicium and Vitamins D3 and K2 in the Conservative Management of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures. J Clin Med. 2026 Jul 3;15(13):5206. doi: 10.3390/jcm15135206.

Writing date: 2026-08-24