Liquid Vitamin D3 and K1+K2

Liquid D3 and K by Douglas Laboratories is unique in that it contains both Vitamin D3 and K1+K2 in a great tasting liquid for children and adults. The drops are easy to dose (1 drop = 50 IU Vit D3) plus vitamins K1 and K2 to support optimal bone health, tooth formation, and the immune system.

A worldwide expert, Michael Holick, PhD, MD, has has done 20 years of research  on vitamin D, and the results show that our country is hugely deficient (epidemic proportions).

Click here for a complete article about vitamin D. And, click here to download the PDF: The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D: an exclusive interview with Dr. Michael Holick.

Consequences of vitamin D deficiency include:

• Weakened immune system (susceptibility to colds and flu)
  
• Generalized bone pain or isolated bone pain (Osteomalacia)
• Muscle aches
• Osteoporosis
• Breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancer
• Leukemia in children
• Kidney disease or kidney stones
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Autoimmune disease prevention (type I diabetes, MS)
• Weakened liver function

Research shows that activated Vitamin D inhibits cancer cell growth, so get your 2-3 hours of sun per week, or take your vitamin D!

Importance of Vitamin K with Vitamin D supplement
Vitamin K is necessary for directing the transport of calcium into bone and teeth for optimal strength. Increasing the amount of calcium in the blood stream by proper supplementation with calcium and vitamin D in the presence of inadequate levels of vitamin K, can increase the risk of calcium deposition in arteries and soft tissue. Vitamin K can be obtained from vegetables, supplements and can also be synthesized by intestinal friendly bacteria.

REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING

Serving Size: 1 dropper = 1 ml = 20 drops
Servings Per Container: 30 per 1oz. bottle

Active Ingredients:

• Vitamin D3 ............................................... 1,000 IU
• Vitamin K-1 ............................................... 500 mcg
• Vitamin K-2(as MK-4) .................................. 1 mg
• Vitamin K-2(as MK-7, from soy) ................ 45 mcg

Inactive Ingredients: Water, medium chain triglycerides, sunflower oil, cellulose, natural vanilla flavor, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, and stevia.

This product contains NO yeast, wheat gluten, milk/dairy, corn, sodium, sugar, starch, artificial coloring, preservatives or flavoring.

Recommended Dosage: Each drop contains 50 IU Vitamin D3.

Dosage to Correct Vitamin D Deficiency:
Infants under 12 months:    1,000-2,000 IU Vit D daily (20-40 drops per day)
Children 1-10 years: 2,000-4,000 IU Vit D daily (40-80 drops daily)
Adults: 10,000 IU per day (200 drops daily. Or take 5 drops Emulsi-D3 instead)

Maintenence Dosage:
Infant under 12 months: 400 IU daily (8 drops)
Children over 12 months: 800 IU daily (16 drops)
Pregnancy/lactation  2,000-4,000 IU Vit D daily (40-80 drops or 1-2 drops Emulsi-D3 instead).
Adults: 1,000-2,000 IU daily (20-40 drops)

Warning: This product contains vitamin K, which interferes with the prescription drugs Coumadin and Warfarin. Do not take this if taking either of these drugs.

For optimal storage conditions store in a cool, dry place (59-77 F/15-25 C) (35-65% relative humidity). Tamper resistant package, do not use if outer seal is missing.

FUNCTIONS
Vitamin K
A growing body of literature supports the concept that increased intake of vitamin K both from food as well as supplements can have a beneficial impact on bone health. While the term vitamin K may imply a single molecule, vitamin K is actually a group of similar molecular forms including K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone). Liquid D and K has been specially formulated to include the most important molecular forms of vitamin K for optimal health.

Vitamin K1 is the most abundant form of vitamin K in the diet and is most often found in green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and broccoli. Often this source of vitamin K is difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts from the diet, as the molecule can be bound tightly to the chloroplast membrane in the plant. Vitamin K1 is well regarded for the important roles it plays in the bodys normal blood clotting mechanisms.

Vitamin K2 is not commonly found in the diet; as only a few products including meats and certain fermented foods provide this relatively rare form of the vitamin. Vitamin K2 is actually comprised of a group of several different molecules, abbreviated as MK-n, where n represents a number. MK-4, found in some animal meats and liver, and MK-7, found in fermented cheeses and soy products (Natto) are two of the most studied forms of vitamin K2. Supplementation with this vitamin is important as most people do not receive enough vitamin K2 from diet alone.

Human studies show that vitamin K plays important roles in bone health. Vitamin K has been shown to decrease calcium excretion and is involved in gammacarboxylation of osteocalcin. Osteocalcin is important for healthy bone formation, as it facilitates the binding of calcium to hydroxyapatite (bone matrix). Additional studies also indicate the vitamin K2 may play important roles in supporting cardiovascular health and normal arterial elasticity.

While Vitamin K1 has shown to be useful in some studies, vitamin K2 is thought to have additional, beneficial effects, as the body has a natural preference to accumulate this vitamin in tissues such as bone. MK-7, a natural form of vitamin K2, in particular has shown to have rapid bioavailability in the body and the low dosages required (45 mcg) can be effective for supporting bone health.

Vitamin D3
Vitamin D is well known for the role it plays in helping to regulate calcium and bone metabolism. As we age, vitamin D status declines. If given the same amount of light, a younger person can produce more vitamin D compared with an older individual. When advancing age is combined with northern latitudes one can quickly become deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D can increase the expression of osteocalcin and other important compounds from osteoblasts to help support bone formation or it can help to breakdown bone and mobilize calcium when it is needed elsewhere in the body. Numerous scientists now feel that supplementation with vitamin D at levels greater than previously thought necessary is critical to helping maintain healthy bone remodeling as we age.

References:

1. Backstrom MC, Maki R, Kuusela AL, Sievanen H, Koivisto AM, Ikonen RS, Kouri T, Maki M. Randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation on bone density and biochemical indices in preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1999 May;80(3):F161-6
2. Gillespie WJ, Henry DA, O'Connell DL, Robertson J. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures associated with involutional and post-menopausal osteoporosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD000227
3. Knapen MH, Schurgers LJ, Vermeer C.
4. Vitamin K(2) supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 2007 Feb 8;
5. Swaminathan R. Nutritional factors in osteoporosis. Int J Clin Pract. 1999 Oct-Nov;53(7):540-8. 22.
6. Tsugawa N, Shiraki M, Suhara Y, Kamao M, Tanaka K, Okano T. Vitamin K status of healthy Japanese women: age-related vitamin K requirement for gamma-carboxylation of osteocalcin. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Feb;83(2):380-6