Specialty ingredients manufacturer Balchem has launched a new three-in-one formula concept called Vital Trio, which was developed based on strong purchase interest across consumer studies. The formula contains K2Vital Delta, a double-microencapsulated 99.7% all-trans vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient with Albion Minerals’ chelated magnesium bisglycinate and vitamin D3, for immune, cardiovascular, and bone health.
 
“We first developed the Vital Trio concept to explore how these three on-trend ingredients – magnesium, vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 – could be combined to deliver even broader health benefits and superior efficacy,” said Thies Ripcke, director of business development and strategic marketing for K2Vital at Balchem Human Nutrition and Health. “Magnesium is the fastest growing mineral in US retail, gaining attention and popularity for its sleep, relaxation and mood-boosting benefits. At the same time, demand for vitamin D continues to grow steadily, especially during the winter seasons. The challenge is the sensitive nature of vitamin K2 can present stability issues when combining it with minerals. But thanks to K2Vital Delta’s advanced and patented microencapsulation technology, which offers enhanced stability and bioavailability in all environments, the Vital Trio successfully overcomes this problem.”
 
Positive Feedback in Europe and North America
 
Balchem reported receiving positive feedback for the Vital Trio cocept in initial surveys conducted in December 2023 in North America, followed by surveys in three major European markets: Germany; Italy; and the U.K. The research involved 841 health-conscious people between the ages of 25 and 55 who purchased vitamins, minerals, or supplements in the previous six months, testing the Vital Trio against three control concepts, one for each market, benchmarking them against appropriate standards for each country.
 
Purchase interest matched between Vital Trio and control concepts (78%), while Vital Trio scored higher for uniqueness (59% versus 48%) and perceived health benefits (72% versus 67%). A majority (74%) of consumers said that Vital Trio addressed unmet needs, and more than half of the participants expressed an inclination to pay a premium for its high quality. Additionally, 85% said they appreciated the product for its benefits to bone, heart, and immune health.
 
Researchers believe that vitamins D and K have synergistic effects on bone and cardiovascular health, as explained in a recent review published in Nutrients.
 
By incorporating magnesium into the mix, brands can create more effective formulations, Balchem said. Magnesium is involved in bone formation and plays a key role in vitamin D activation, to regulate bone homeostasis. Vitamin D3 facilitates calcium absorption into the bloodstream and synthesis of vitamin K-dependent proteins, while vitamin K2 activates these proteins to direct calcium into the bones.
 
Vitamin K2 and magnesium both also contribute to cardiovascular support, respectively maintaining flexible arteries and blood vessel function. Magnesium is also involved in immune cell activation and function, while vitamin D helps regulate immune response and immune cell activity.
 
“This new market research demonstrates the untapped potential of the Vital Trio concept to help brands stand out in the crowded market,” said Ripcke. “Through projects like this, we aim to help our partners differentiate their offering by showing how they can leverage the synergies between our flagship ingredients to craft appealing solutions that resonate deeply with consumers’ needs.”