Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and along with being known as the “Sunshine Vitamin” is most abundantly found in fatty fish and fish oil. Vitamin D is important for the body as it promotes calcium absorption and helps to maintain adequate levels of calcium in your blood.
A deficiency in Vitamin D may cause bone loss and even osteoporosis over time, along with playing a role in many other vital functions of the body. When there are times of insufficient calcium intake, the body has no choice but to use calcium reserves in bones – even if it may cause bone loss and eventually, osteoporosis.
What is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K’s role is to regulate the calcium in the body and this can be done by promoting calcification of bone and reducing the calcification of soft tissues such as the blood vessels and kidneys. There have been a few controlled human studies that have investigated the effects of taking Vitamin K and its role in blood vessel calcification, however more studies are under way.
Increased Risk of Heart Disease
The calcification of blood vessels has been implicated in the development of chronic diseases such as kidney disease and heart disease [1].
Some believe that a diet with a high Vitamin D toxicity can cause hypercalcemia and this condition is characterised by high calcium in the blood. Hypercalcemia can also lead to blood vessel calcification, known as BVC. When calcium and phosphorus levels are high, the calcium phosphate starts to accumulate in the lining of the blood vessels. BVC is considered to be one of the main underlying causes of heart disease.
A Vitamin K deficiency is associated with BVC and numerous observational studies have linked low Vitamin K levels with an increased risk of BVC. Vitamin K supplements may also reduce BVC in humans, along with the risk of heart disease. People who also have high amounts of Vitamin K2 in their diet are also at a reduced risk of blood vessel calcification and heart disease.
Vitamin D toxicity can cause blood vessel calcification, but taking it with Vitamin K can help to prevent this from occurring.
High doses of Vitamin D can potentially lead to dangerously high calcium levels and blood vessel calcification, although it’s still unclear regarding lower doses of Vitamin D and how harmful this is in the long term.
A study from 2007 with one nutritionist proposed the idea that high doses of Vitamin D can deplete Vitamin K and this may potentially cause a Vitamin K deficiency. Research into this is ongoing however [2].
Vitamin K is available in many different forms, and this can be divided into Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone), found in leafy greens such as kale and spinach. While Vitamin K2 is much rarer and usually occurs in fermented foods such as natto or animal sources of food. Many foods rich in Vitamin K2 are also rich in fat and these include cheese, egg yolks and meat.
Getting an adequate amount of both Vitamin K2 and Vitamin D is therefore important as this plays an integral role in keeping the body healthy. In particular, Vitamin D3 or Cholecalciferol is the recommendation because it can be used to improve overall health or to treat osteoporosis. It also encourages the kidneys to recycle phosphate back into the blood, helping the blood to stay at the right pH.
Recommended Examples
Vitamin D3 and K2 Spray – This is a combination formula of Vitamin D3 and K2 that can help to support a normal immune system. Promoting better calcium and phosphorus absorption in the blood and bones, it is also the world’s only Vegan & Vegetarian Society registered source of Vitamin D3.
Why Experts Recommend Taking Vitamin D and K Together | www.naturallyhealthynews.com
