Why its essential for everybody to take vitamin D + k2 - especially in the winter!

Why Vitamin D +K2 is so important for EVERYBODY!

All of us living in the UK should be supplementing with vitamin D + K2, especially in the winter months! It’s vital for overall health and wellbeing, optimising your immune system, bone and musculoskeletal health (note bone pain and bone density), metabolic health, hormone production, mood and sleep.   More recently vitamin D has been recognised as a secosteroid hormone that influences over 2,000 genes and nearly every tissue in the human body. However, modern science has revealed two critical caveats: Vitamin D works best with a partner (Vitamin K2), and how you take it matters just as much as how much you take.

The Lifespan Essential: Why Everyone Needs It

Vitamin D deficiency is a global silent epidemic, affecting immune function, mood, and metabolic health from birth through seniority. It’s virtually impossible to get enough vitamin D from sunlight alone, in order to achieve this you need to be maintaining a tan on a large surface area of your body (your chest and back). The darker your skin tone, the more sun you need to create a tan and so you need to supplement with more vitamin D than fairer skinned individuals. In the winter months we have very little sunshine, let alone enough to achieve a sun tan! Vitamin D supplementation is essential for everyone- the darker your skin tone, the more vitamin D you need to take.  

The "Traffic Cop" Synergy: D3 + K2

Taking Vitamin D3 alone is only half the story. When you increase Vitamin D, your body produces more Vitamin K-dependent proteins like Osteocalcin (which puts calcium in bones) and Matrix GLA Protein (which keeps calcium out of arteries).

Without Vitamin K2 (specifically the MK-7 form), these proteins remain inactive.  In our formulation we chose MK-7 over MK-4 (menaquinone-4) because it remains in the blood stream longer than MK-4.  Any vitamin D product without MK7 can results in "The Calcium Paradox": calcium circulating in the blood where it can cause arterial calcification (stiffness) instead of strengthening the skeletal system. To ensure cardiovascular safety and bone density, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 must be taken together.  Vitamin D + K2 can aid bone density and the formation of strong teeth.

Absorption: Why the Delivery Form Matters

Many people supplement religiously but see little change in their blood serum levels (25(OH)D). This is often due to malabsorption in the gastrointestinal tract and a lack of vitamin K2 in the product.

Why in a lozenge?
Standard pills and capsules must survive the acidic environment of the stomach and the "first-pass metabolism" of the liver. Factors like low stomach acid, inflammatory bowel issues, or even a low-fat breakfast can inhibit absorption.

• Bypassing the Gut: Best absorbed sublingually -under the tongue/ or in the oral mucosa. A lozenge allows the vitamins to be absorbed through the oral mucosa directly into the bloodstream for optimum effect.
• Direct Delivery: Since Vitamin D3 and K2 are fat-soluble, oral mucosal delivery ensures higher bioavailability, making it a superior choice for those with digestive sensitivities or those who don't want to rely on a high-fat meal for absorption.

For optimum health, aim for a Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) and Vitamin K2 (MK-7) combination in a sublingual such as a lozenge form This ensures the "Sunshine Vitamin" actually reaches your cells and the "Traffic Cop" keeps your heart safe.

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any new supplement regimen.

Scientific References (Abridged)

1. Vermeer, C., et al. (2012). Vitamin K: an essential cofactor for target proteins. Vitamin K2's role in activating MGP to prevent vascular calcification.
2. Ballegooijen, A. J., et al. (2017). The Synergistic Interplay between Vitamins D and K for Cardiovascular Health. International Journal of Endocrinology.
3. Satilsmis, B., et al. (2021). Sublingual vs. Oral Vitamin D Supplementation. Comparison study showing faster serum increases in sublingual delivery groups.
4. Gröber, U., et al. (2015). Vitamin D: Supplementation, Bioavailability and Dosage. Analysis of fat-solubility and absorption barriers.