One in six adults in the UK has low levels of vitamin D in their blood, hardly surprising when you look at our weather! In a perfect world we would be blessed with glorious sunshine morning, noon and night, all work outdoors and feast on a diet rich in oily fish, red meat, egg yolks and liver – if that were the case, Vitamin D would not be a problem.

 

Unfortunately it doesn’t work out that way… Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

 

Whilst Vitamin D3 helps your body absorb more calcium, Vitamin K2 helps your body transport it to your bones and teeth rather than letting it sit in your arteries and other soft tissues in your body. This not only helps to promote bone health, but it also helps to keep your heart healthy as well.

 

By strengthening your bones, you can lower your risk of osteoporosis, and by keeping your heart healthy, you can lower your risk of heart disease.

 

Who it’s for:

 

Ideal for anyone needing bone support, calcium regulation, or cardiovascular protection – especially individuals who may be deficient in D3 and need K2 to guide calcium into bones, not vessel walls.

 

What it does:

 

Vitamin D3 increases calcium absorption and helps regulate bone metabolism, while Vitamin K2 activates proteins like osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein (MGP), ensuring calcium is utilised by bones – not deposited in arteries. Combined, they act as ‘calcium traffic controllers’.

 

How I would use it:

 

Take 1 capsule daily with a meal containing fat for optimal absorption. Excellent alongside calcium or multivitamin routines. Consistency over months delivers the most benefit.

 

 

The Science:

 

Combined Vitamin D3 + K2 increases spinal bone density in osteoporosis

 

Study: Effect of combined administration of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 on bone mineral density of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

 

Journal of Orthopaedic Science (2000)

 

https://shorturl.at/2EUmh

 

In a randomised trial of postmenopausal women (aged 55-81), groups received Vitamin D3 alone, K2 alone, combined D3 + K2, or calcium only. Over 2 years:

 

Only the combined D3 + K2 group showed a significant increase in lumbar spine BMD, compared to calcium alone or either vitamin by itself (P < 0.0001).
These results suggest that co-supplementation is more effective than individual nutrients for bone density improvement.

 

 

 

Vitamin D3 + K2 supplementation slows vascular calcification progression

 

Study: Effects of vitamins D3 and K2 supplementation on coronary artery calcification in adults with high coronary calcium scores (Danish AVADEC trial).

 

BMJ Open / PMC (2023)

 

https://short-link.me/1agkT

 

In this multi-centre, randomised placebo-controlled trial (400 participants with CAC ≥ 400), supplementation with 720 µg MK‑7 + 25 µg D3 daily for 2 years:

 

Slowed progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC), especially in those with severe baseline CAC.
Also associated with fewer cardiac events and reduced plaque progression in exploratory findings.
Supports the vascular protective synergy of chronic D3 + K2 intake.