Check out this article we found from LindsayRusk.ca ​on the importance of supplementing Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 together. We carry an amazing product called Vit D+K which provides a clinically useful dose of vitamin D3, 5000 IU per veggie cap, and vitamin K in both K1 and the MK-7 form of K2.
Most people are familiar with the importance of Vitamin D. Unfortunately, it is not common knowledge (yet) that supplementing with, or getting an adequate amount of Vitamin K2 in the diet is just as important. The fat soluble Vitamins D, K2 and A all work together synergistically. When you get too much of one, such as Vitamin D, and not enough of the others, Vitamin K2 and A, it can pose some problems.
What Happens when you take too much Vitamin D and not enough Vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2 activates, or "turns on" a number of different proteins in the body. Some of these K2 activated proteins guide calcium into your bones and teeth, where calcium belongs. When these calcium guiding proteins don't their job, it is because there is no Vitamin K2 to turn them on.
This is really important for two reasons. Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium into the body. But, when there is no K2 to activate the proteins that send calcium to your bones, the calcium may settle in your soft tissues, which is associated with vascular calcification and kidney stones. In fact, Vitamin K2 is proving to be very beneficial in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and kidney stones.
To explain an incredibly complex, a not well understood process which simply, Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 work together as a team. D helps get calcium in the body, K2 "sends" it to the bones. Both nutrients are essential and beneficial to bone health and cardiovascular health.
A new study has found that supplementing with calcium is not as good for us as we previously believed. Not only does supplementing with calcium have no effect on bone density, but it will increase your chance of developing atherosclerosis, heart disease, and kidney stones.
If strengthening your bones is what you are aiming for, supplementing with K2 is a much better idea.
In fact the Japanese diet is very low in calcium, but they also have a very low rate of osteoporosis. This is opposite to Americans, who have a high calcium intake but also a much higher rate of osteoporosis. The Japanese diet includes natto, which is a slimy, stringy fermented soybean. Natto is a very rich food source of Vitamin K2, and it is the reason postmenopausal Japanese women have low rates of bone fracture.
Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) was discovered in the late 1920s. It was named Vitamin K after the German term koagulation, because of its critical function in blood clotting. Vitamin K1 is recycled in the body, and is easy to obtain in the diet, from green leafy vegetables. Therefore it is nearly impossible to be deficient in Vitamin K1.
Vitamin K2 (menaquinone), on the other hand has just recently begun to attract the attention it deserves. Vitamin K2 is not recycled in the body and is more difficult to obtain from the diet. Research shows that much of the population is actually deficient in Vitamin K2.
Humans do have the ability to convert K1 into K2, but the rate of conversion is inefficient at best. Contrary to popular belief, this small rate of conversion does not supply our need for K2. The Rotterdam Study discovered that "Intake of menaquinone (K2) was inversely related to all-cause mortality and severe aortic calcification. Phylloquinone (K1) intake was not related to any of these outcomes." The results from this study were so shocking, the study was repeated by a different set of researchers. The Prospect Study had the same results. They also found that for every 10 mcg increase of K2 in the diet, there was a 9% decrease in the chance of developing coronary heart disease.
K2 not only activates calcium directing proteins, but also activates many other health promoting proteins as well.
Vitamin K2 plays a strong role in the prevention of many types of cancer, including prostate, colon, liver and lung. K2 prevents cells from behaving badly, by inhibiting cells from growing wildly out of control, and not dying when they should. Those with an increased risk of cancer may want to consider increasing their Vitamin K2 intake.
K2 improves insulin sensitivity, which is important for those who have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes.
Vitamin K2 can prevent varicose veins. Which makes sense, when you think about K2's role in preventing calcium from calcifying in the veins.
Vitamin K2 can improve dental health.
Vitamin K2 deficiency decreases testosterone production, whereas a higher K2 intake enhances testosterone production in the testes.
Vitamin K may play a role in brain health and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
​​Excessively wrinkly skin is associated with low bone density in postmenopausal women. We just learned that a low intake of Vitamin K2 is associated with low bone density. So, Vitamin K2 deficiency may also be associated with wrinkly skin. Improving your K2 intake may keep you looking younger. Maybe K2-rich Natto is the reason Japanese age so gracefully.
How Much Vitamin K2 Should You Supplement?
Seeing as Vitamin D, K2 and A all work together synergistically, its logical to ensure that you get a balanced intake of all three. Unfortunately, these vitamins have primarily been studied in isolation so no one knows the exact ratio we should aim for.
Dr Kate Rhéaume-Bleue, who literally wrote The Book on Vitamin K2 recommends taking "equal amounts of A and D, with 100 mcg K2 (as MK-7), or 1,000 mcg (as MK-4) per 1,000 IU A/D. She also states that "the most recent clinical trials use 180 mcg per day for bone health, and 360 mcg daily for arterial calcifications". Dr Kate also suggests supplementing children with 120 mcg per day, which is near an adult dose. They do have small bodies, but their small bodies are quickly growing.
Vitamin K2 is a very safe nutrient. There has been no toxicity level established, and is safe even at high doses.
There are two forms of Vitamin K2 you will find in supplements: MK-4 and MK-7. Supplemental MK-4 is made synthetically, and has a shorter half life than MK-7. Supplemental MK-7 is made from natto, and has a longer half life than MK-4. Generally the dose of MK-4 is about 10 times higher than MK-7.
Who Shouldn't Supplement With Vitamin K2?
​One group of people who shouldn't supplement with K2 are those taking warfarin (Coumadin), as this drug prevents clotting by creating a Vitamin K deficiency in the blood. But, other blood thinners such as as clopidogrel (Plavix), dabagitran (Pradaxa), prasugrel (Effient), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), aspirin or fish oil thin blood through other mechanisms not related to Vitamin K, so K2 does not have an effect on their function.