BioSpec Bio D/K Plus

Vitamin D and vitamin K (as vitamin K2) are fat-soluble vitamins identified for their central roles in calcium homeostasis and utilization. As the most abundant mineral in the body calcium is required for several essential physiological processes, in addition to its role as a structural component of bone matrix and teeth. While the relationship of vitamin D to calcium availability and bone health is well-established, more recent research has identified critical interactions involving vitamin K2 with vitamin D and calcium.

The relationship involving vitamin D, vitamin K2, and calcium is such that vitamin D serves to increase the absorption of dietary calcium, whereas vitamin K2 facilitates the healthy distribution of calcium throughout the body. Elevated vitamin D levels are beneficial and serve to improve bone mineral density from increased calcium availability. However, higher calcium levels can also increase the risk of calcium deposits in non-skeletal tissues. For its role, vitamin K2 performs the essential function of activating specific proteins that direct and bind calcium to bones while inhibiting calcium deposits in the arteries and other soft tissues.*

• Vitamin D is both a vitamin and a hormone that facilitates calcium absorption and homeostasis, and thus is essential for the maintenance of healthy bones. Vitamin D deficiency is overwhelmingly common among all age groups due to lack of sufficient sun exposure and low availability of vitamin D in most foods. Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for vitamin D vary by life stage and range between 400 IU (10 mcg) and 800 IU (20 mcg) per day, a level established to prevent bone disorders including rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Current vitamin D recommendations have been met with controversy from different health organizations which recognize the need for higher vitamin D intakes to correct more extensive deficiencies and support non-skeletal processes, particularly those involving the immune system.
• Vitamin K is the generic name for a family of compounds sharing similar chemical structures and characteristics. Vitamin K may further be distinguished as vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) or vitamin K2 (menaquinones – MK-4 through MK-13), with each form recognized for distinct roles in human physiology. Vitamin K1 is the most abundant form of vitamin K in the diet. It is found primarily in green leafy and cruciferous vegetables and is required for normal blood clotting. Vitamin K2 is less available from dietary sources, though it is found in some meats, eggs, cheeses, or fermented soy (natto), and is also produced by lactic acid bacteria in the large intestine. Vitamin K2 is essential for activating specific proteins promoted by vitamin D, including osteocalcin and matrix GLA protein (MGP), to support bone and cardiovascular health.

Bio D/K Plus combines a unique high-potency blend of vitamin D and two forms of vitamin K2 (MK-4 & MK-7) in an oil-emulsified blend for enhanced absorption. Bio D/K Plus provides the ideal blend of vitamin D and vitamin K2 to support bone, immune, and vascular health through the activation of vitamin K dependent proteins.*