What is Vitamin K with D3?

A growing body of research shows that when it comes to bone health, ensuring optimal intake of vitamin K is a critical piece of the puzzle. New research is focusing on the synergistic relationship between vitamin K (specifically, vitamin K2) and vitamin D3, especially in terms of bone strength1. A group of naturally occurring and structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K is essential for the proper utilization of calcium. Through its activation of the protein osteocalcin, vitamin K helps to bind newly absorbed calcium to the mineral matrix in bone. In addition, vitamin K has been found to help maintain bone mineral density by decreasing the activity of osteoclasts, a cell that breaks down the bone matrix2. Thus, vitamin K and vitamin D not only share similar qualities but they also act synergistically with one another within the body.5 Ortho Molecular’s Vitamin D3 with K2 liquid utilizes a medium chain triglyceride (MCT) delivery system providing 10 mcg of vitamin K2 (as MK-7) and 1000 IU of vitamin D3 per serving. Natural medium chain triglycerides have physical properties that allow them to be readily absorbed without additional emulsifying agents. MCTs are a great way to deliver pure, tasteless and odorless liquid vitamin K2 and D3, which easily combines with any beverage.

Overview

While vitamin D has long been known to assist calcium absorption, it is vitamin K, through its carboxylation of osteocalcin, which guides this calcium to bones and prevents

their absorption into organs, joint spaces and arteries. Vitamin K occurs in 3 main forms: K1 (phylloquinone), derived from foods such as green leafy vegetables, K2 (menaquinone) which originates from bacteria6; a third form, K3 (menadione), is a synthetic analogue. Numerous studies have shown that vitamin K2 influences bone building. In addition, though both reach the liver, most of the K1 is used for purposes of coagulation, with little left over to support the body’s needs elsewhere.8 The profoundly different degrees of bioavailability between K1 and K2 is due to their differences in structure; only 10-20% of vitamin K1 that is absorbed from food even reaches the circulation, while the long side-chain of vitamin K2 allows it to bind with fat particles in circulation and facilitate its arrival at soft tissue, bones and arteries. There are two forms of vitamin K2 commonly used in supplements: MK-4 and MK-7. The MK-7 form has been shown to have 6 times the activity of MK-4 in the blood. MK-7 has also been found to remain in the blood approximately nine times as long as the MK-4 (8 hours versus 72 hours), making it the optimal form of K2 for health.9

Vitamin K Depletion

Although most people consume adequate dietary vitamin K to maintain sufficient blood clotting, most do not consume enough to meet bone health needs. Compromised intestinal absorption can also lead to insufficient K2 levels leaving calcium available to be exported out of bone and into other tissues. Other medications such as antibiotics, cholesterol lowering medications, and laxatives have also been found to contribute to a deficiency of vitamin K.