The Powerhouse for Immunity and Cellular Function
A Deep Dive into Vitamin D
Ever peeked into the nutrition world? If so, vitamin D might have caught your eye, especially considering its paramount importance in today’s health arena. It’s not only about bones and sunshine; it’s about your immune system, heart, cells, and much more. There is no more powerful example of how vital this vitamin is than its effect on COVID-19 (check out the video).
But, here’s a twist: taking vitamin D in isolation might not be the golden ticket. Let’s unravel this.
Vitamin D3: More Than Just a Vitamin
Often dubbed the “sunshine vitamin,” D3 isn’t just for those winter blues. It plays a stellar role in bone health, cognition, cardiovascular functions, and cell growth. Interestingly, it even holds the reins on over 3,000 gene expressions.
The Perfect Pairing: Vitamins D3 & K2
Imagine having a fabulous car but not the right fuel to run it. That’s vitamin D3 without its co-pilot, vitamin K2. Together, they metabolize calcium properly, supporting flexible arteries and overall cardiovascular wellness.
The Unending Wonders of Vitamin D
It’s not just another health fad. The scientific research pool is brimming with revelations on this nutrient, highlighting two clear facts:
Its significance in health has been massively underrated.
There’s an alarming rise in vitamin D deficiencies worldwide.
The Cellular Dance of Vitamin D
Here’s where it gets impressive: vitamin D, particularly D3, isn’t just another item on your nutrient checklist. Think of it as a master puppeteer, influencing every cell and deciding their behavior. With receptors sprawled all over, including on immune cells, it’s crystal clear how pivotal vitamin D is for immunity.
The Mystery of Vitamin D Deficiency
Why are deficiency rates skyrocketing despite abundant sources? The culprit is a lack of sun exposure. Even if you’re soaking up the sun, the modern lifestyle, sunscreen, and geographic factors might still leave you deficient. And while supplements abound, not everyone reaps the benefits for many reasons.
Geography Matters
Sunny beaches and summery days don’t guarantee your vitamin D intake. Surprisingly, even summer doesn’t offer the right kind of UVB exposure for adequate vitamin D synthesis in many places. So, it’s not just winter you need to worry about.
In essence, vitamin D is not just another nutrient; it’s a cornerstone of health. Whether through diet, sunshine, or supplements, ensuring adequate vitamin D is more than essential—it’s imperative.
Getting Enough Vitamin D
We all know about its reputation with sunlight, but there’s much more to this nutrient than meets the eye. And if you’re mostly tucked indoors, you might be running low on this sunny vitamin. Here are some deficiency signs:
11 Signs You May Be Deficient in Vitamin D
One of the many things we’ve learned in recent years about vitamin D is that there are physical and mental signs of deficiency or sub-par levels. Here are 11 major ones:
1. Aching muscles
Studies suggest that nerves have vitamin D receptors that influence pain perception. Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to deep muscle hypersensitivity.
2. Painful bones
Because vitamin D regulates the body’s calcium for bone health, low levels could cause bones to soften.
3. Fatigue
In one study of 174 patients with fatigue (but stable health), 77% were deficient in vitamin D. Once serum vitamin D levels returned to normal, feelings of fatigue improved significantly.
4. Reduced muscle performance
Higher vitamin D serum levels are associated with reduced injury rates and improved sports performance. Vitamin D is crucial in muscle development, strength, and performance.
5. Mood and cognitive function
Vitamin D helps buffer higher calcium levels in the brain, like bones, making it essential for brain and neuron health, a healthy mood, and proper cognitive function.
6. Cardiovascular and blood pressure concerns
Found to have a significant effect on the endothelial cells that line the cardiovascular system, vitamin D3 supports healthy circulation and blood pressure levels already in the normal range.
7. Poor sleep
Research has linked low vitamin D levels with poor-quality rest and a greater risk of sleep issues.
8. Excessive sweating
Abnormal sweating (especially your head) or a change in how you perspire may suggest low vitamin D.
9. Hair loss
Vitamin D plays a key role in your hair cycle, and vitamin D receptors appear to promote hair growth.
10. Dizziness
Animal models suggest vitamin D is crucial for the healthy development of the inner ear, which affects balance and coordination. Dizziness in human patients is linked to lower serum vitamin D levels.
11. Excess weight
Data shows that overweight individuals tend to have lower levels, and adding vitamin D to the diet may prompt weight loss.
As you can see, vitamin D (precisely the vitamin D3 form) has a far-reaching and significant impact throughout the body, affecting almost every function. If you’re ticking off more than a couple of these signs, it might be time for a vitamin D check.
Without a doubt, you need this nutrient for optimal health, from head to toe. Let’s make sure you are getting enough.
The diet-conscious might think, Hey, I’ll just eat my way to ample vitamin D. Most foods, milk included, barely scratch the surface in providing the required amounts of this nutrient. Contrary to popular belief, milk isn’t a natural powerhouse of vitamin D; it’s fortified, but the quantity doesn’t cut it.
What’s the Ideal Amount of Vitamin D?
A blood test is recommended to pin down your vitamin D levels. NutriDyn offers an at-home test kit. Click this link to get your kit.
Let’s talk numbers.
Previously, a serum level of 40-60 ng/mL was considered ideal. Some are now suggesting 50 ng/mL as a solid baseline for immune wellness. However, I recommend a serum level between 60 to 80 ng/mL.
If you take the corrective route, a retest in a few months would be wise.
Think Twice Before Taking Vitamin D Alone
If you’re taking vitamin D, you must pair it with vitamin K2; D & K2 are a dynamic duo.
Imagine this: vitamin D is the delivery driver for calcium in your body, and vitamin K2 is the GPS, ensuring the cargo gets to the correct destination, such as the bones.
Vitamin K2: The ‘Neglected Player’ in Heart Health
Researchers discovered vitamin K in the early 1930s, identifying two forms – K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone) early on, only recently recognizing the total value of vitamin K2.
While vitamin K1 deficiency is rare, vitamin K2 deficiency has become very common among the general population in the U.S. Here’s why that matters.
Studies show vitamin K2 plays a crucial role in cardiovascular health through its ability to regulate calcium homeostasis and help maintain healthy, flexible arteries.
The good news is, if you have a vitamin K2 deficiency, bringing vitamin K levels up to standard levels leads to essential health benefits that you can’t be without:
flexible arteries for optimal cardiovascular health
proper calcium absorption and utilization
adequate, timely blood clotting
The body must have sufficient vitamins D3 and K2 to maintain healthy arteries and blood vessels.
Vitamin K2 for Your Brain, Bones, Muscles and Nerves
A K2 deficiency can impact many other body functions, too:
Bones and joints – Vitamin K2 is needed to activate osteocalcin, an essential protein secreted by osteoblasts, the bone-building cells. When activated, osteocalcin draws calcium into the bones to incorporate into the bone matrix. When combined with vitamin D3, the two vitamins help inhibit osteoclasts (cells promoting resorption of bone) to protect the healthy bone-building process.
Muscle – Vitamin K2 helps maintain vital muscle mass and function, especially during aging. Muscle cramping can be a sign of degenerating muscle health. Supplementation with vitamin K2 in a study of nineteen elderly patients dramatically improved the frequency, severity, and duration of discomfort during cramping.
Brain – The brain requires sufficient levels of both vitamins D and K2 for optimal cognition. By activating MGP (Matrix Gla protein), vitamin K2 supports healthy calcium homeostasis, flexible arteries, and blood flow in the brain like the rest of the body.
Mood and nervous system – Vitamin K2 is involved in the production of sphingolipids, an important class of lipids found in high concentrations in brain and central nervous system cell membranes. A study showed a link between vitamin K2 status and mood; higher levels are associated with improved mood.
Eyes – Vitamin K2 is associated with healthy eye tissues as one ages, as MGP also plays a role in vision. MGP is abundant in the eyes, where it helps maintain calcium homeostasis and preserve the structural integrity of eye tissues, the sclera, and retinal ganglion cells.
Mitochondria – Vitamin K2 supports energy production by improving electron transport in mitochondria, the energy powerhouses in cells, leading to more efficient ATP production.
Metabolism – Vitamin K2 promotes insulin sensitivity in glucose metabolism through its involvement with osteocalcin. It also helps maintain an appropriate inflammatory response through a critical signaling pathway.
The First and Only Clinically Proven Vitamin K2
Of the four different varieties of vitamin K2 (MK-4, MK-7, MK-8, and MK-9), I prefer MK-7. It’s the most accessible form for the body to absorb, and because it has a half-life of three days, it stays in the body longer, allowing consistent blood levels to build.
Studies show the MK-7 form of vitamin K2 provides the optimal vitamin K status in the body to activate the vitamin K-dependent protein MGP.
NutriDyn uses a patented form of MK-7, MenaQ7®, in their vitamins D3 & K2. The first and only clinically proven vitamin K2 for cardiovascular and bone health, MenaQ7® also offers potential benefits for the muscle and nervous system’s health and optimal blood flow in the brain.
What makes MenaQ7® so superior?
It is the longest-lasting, most bioavailable, and bioactive form of vitamin K2.
It supports bone strength and bone mass.
It is guaranteed high purity for quality, safety, and efficacy.
It is free from gluten, dairy, soy, and other known allergens.
It contains no genetically engineered ingredients.
An animal study showed a 10-fold increase in MGP gene expression with MenaQ7 supplementation. This result is the first-time researchers have seen MK-7 affect MGP synthesis in the vascular and arterial walls.
A study on the impact of vitamin K2 as MenaQ7® followed a group of healthy women over three years. MenaQ7® helped maintain vascular elasticity, resulting in substantial heart health benefits.
In another study, one group of participants received vitamin K2 (MenaQ7®) and vitamin D3. Another group got only vitamin D. For six months, the group with vitamins D3 and K2 maintained their cardiovascular health. D3 5000 with K2 is at the top of my supplement list.
The Vitamin D3 & K2 Combo Capsule!
Packing a punch with 5,000 IU of vitamin D3
Delivering 137 mcg of vitamin K2 as MenaQ7®
Arising from fermented chickpeas
Using only natural ingredients
Fitting well with a vegetarian diet
Magnesium: The Missing Link for Vitamin D Benefits
The amount of vitamin D3 one needs depends on many different factors.
Magnesium level is one of those factors. Our bodies require magnesium to convert vitamin D into its active form.
When one has too little magnesium (many people are deficient), they need much higher levels of vitamin D. Magnesium activates and unlocks vitamin D’s many potential benefits.
As many as 50% of Americans supplementing with vitamin D may not get the expected benefits. Instead of being utilized, vitamin D is stored in its inactive form in the body when magnesium levels are low.
Research by GrassrootsHealth shows one needs 146% more vitamin D to achieve a blood level of 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) if they do not also take supplemental magnesium, compared to taking vitamin D with at least 400 mg of magnesium daily.
Further, according to GrassrootsHealth, supplemental magnesium and vitamin K2 have a more significant effect on vitamin D levels than either of them individually. Those supplementing with magnesium and vitamin K2 had higher vitamin D levels, as data from nearly 3,000 individuals showed.
A whopping 244% more oral vitamin D was required without magnesium and vitamin K2. So, a simple way to optimize vitamin D absorption is to take it with magnesium and K2.
I recommend adding Magtein (Magnesium L-Threonate) to your daily regimen, along with vitamins D3 & K2. This superior form of magnesium offers excellent absorption compared to other forms and has the unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to penetrate cell membranes.
I can’t stress it enough . . . the combination of vitamins D3 and K2 is essential for health.
You need it for immune function, but that’s not all. Vitamins D3 and K2 are critically important for the heart, bones, cells, respiration, cognition, mood, muscles, metabolism, and more.
Vitamin D, in particular, penetrates nearly every cell in the body and passes into the cell’s nucleus to control the expression of as many as 3,000 genes, so it is essential for just about every single function in the body.
Remember, for healthy arteries and veins, be sure to take vitamin K2 whenever you take vitamin D. With NutriDyn’s D3 5000 with K2, you get both nutrients in one easy-to-take capsule, so you’ll never again forget to take vitamin K at the same time.
Don’t take a chance on becoming deficient in these crucial nutrients. Order D3 5000 with K2 and Magtein today for your nutritional well-being.
For your health,
Dr. Pat