K2 and d3 - always take together?

[Justme16]

Hi. If it's better to take those supplements together for maximum absorption, does that mean if I have a break from vitamin d - e.g. after blood test - to prevent overdosing, the K2 won't be absorbed?

Thanks for any opinions.

[Met00]

Both K2-MK7 and D3 have long half-lives, meaning they stay in your blood for a long time. So if you don't take one of them one day, the other will still be there. Don't forget that you'll naturally be getting some Vit D this time of year if you go outside, plus if you eat eggs, certain fish and mushrooms etc. When I've needed to reduce my vit D blood level, I've simply reduced the dose, rather than stop altogether.

[Justme16 in reply to Met00]

Thanks Met00. But does that then mean I don't need to take them at the same time,? I.e. K2 morning and d3 with dinner?

[Met00 in reply to Justme16]

I take mine separately, D3 in the morning, K2-MK7 in the evening. Some say they should be taken together because they interact, but it's what happens in the bloodstream, not your mouth and stomach, that matters, so I can't see why they can't be taken apart. In addition, if you take them together, they compete for the fat in your meal, so if there isn't enough fat, one or both won't absorb as well.

[Justme16 in reply to Met00]

Thanks Met00. For a few years I took them separately. K2 breakfast. D3 dinner. Just re reading 'take together for absorption ' and got me wondering. Will revert to separately!

[AnnieW55]

I have the same thoughts/actions as Met00 on this subject. I take my D3 at lunchtime, apart from on the rare occasion I eat breakfast, as I find taking it later impacts on the quality of my sleep.

[Justme16 in reply to AnnieW55]

I thought it was k2 that affected sleep. Am I wrong? I was doing K2 morning, d3 evening.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Justme16]

Probably different for different people (or I’m just awkward😀). D3 definitely affects my sleep patterns/gives me insomnia when I take it in the evening. I hadn’t connected the two but a post on this site some time ago alerted me and after checking, taking D3 mid dayish vs evening, I found this is true for me, so I take D3 in the daytime (usually before 1330) and K2 at dinner which is around 1800 for me.

[Justme16 in reply to AnnieW55]

That is very interesting. I suffer from insomnia frequently. BUT I don't get it on holiday - abroad in the sun. I also don't take d3 on holiday as I sunbathe every day!Maybe it's the d3 at night after dinner....7 or 8 which affects my sleep. Problem solved!

[barani19]

Justme16 ,Its preferable to have Vitamin D3 to have with fatty foods as its a fat-soluble vitamin. I generally have it with my breakfast as I have peanuts, nuts, etc. I take calcium, Mg,Zn+K2 along with Vitamin D3 as the half life of D3 and K2 are almost the same(72 hours) and for maximum absorption. Please avoid having vitamin D3+K2 after dinner or just before going to bed.

[Justme16 in reply to barani19]

Thanks for that. I knew about K2 at night. Didn't know re d3. I do have insomnia.

[FearFracture in reply to barani19]

Why shouldn’t you take vitamin D or K after dinner or before bed?

[barani19 in reply to FearFracture]

FearFracture ,My statement is very generic. You can have Vitamin D and K2 after dinner or before food. For some people sleep gets affected and for some others it does not. So, there is no harm in having Vitamin D and K2 just before going to bed. But we need to make sure we have D3+K2 with good fat (for 30-50% more absorption).

[Raleigh59 in reply to barani19]

We have to take D3 and k2 with good fat? Both have to have good fat?

[barani19 in reply to Raleigh59]

Raleigh59 Your food needs to have good fat in it for better absorption of Vitamin D3 and K2

[Lucy1578]

I was recently diagnosed with Osteopenia, after blood tests I was told my D3 was low and I needed a supplement, when I asked my doctor about taking K2 and D3 together she told me ( very strongly ) that I shouldn’t be taking K2 at all , as it can cause blood clots and at my age( I’m 67) that’s the last thing I need. Know it’s not answering your question Just me16, but it seems so many people take it, not sure what to do! Thanks for any feedback.

[Met00 in reply to Lucy1578]

I wonder whether your doctor is getting confused with K1? Either way, this article suggests that she's wrong! ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl.... K2 is actually supposed to reduce the risk of blocked arteries, because it helps prevent calcium deposits forming. The only exception I know of is for those taking warfarin to thin the blood, K2 can counteract this; but this isn't true of more modern blood thinners.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Lucy1578]

I agree with Met00 many if not most GPS are not aware of K2. I used to work for a very good Osteo/Diabetes Consultant and he wasn’t aware of the qualities of K2 or boron - until I became his patient (a few years ago now) and introduced him to these dietary additions😀. Don’t forget GP stands for General Practitioner and without being rude they cannot know everything about everything, which is why it is good for us to get as much knowledge as we can and share it with our care givers. I am also 67 and do take K2 with no dissent from my Consultant or GP.

[Musicl in reply to AnnieW55]

Hi Annie W55, Does this mean that I can take K2 MK7 while I take Clopidogrel? When I checked with Holland and Barrett, I was informed that they did not recommend taking K2 with blood thinners. I have borderline osteoporosis spine, and osteopina hips, and hhad a heart attack in 2020, hence the blood thinners.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Musicl]

I have no medical training and so cannot advise you. I do know that H&B Staff do have training but how thorough that is I don’t know. Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication, stops the platelets in the blood forming into clots, whilst “thinners” slow down the clotting process; different process. Maybe you could check with your pharmacist (explaining you are specifically asking about k2), your GP or Consultant. The ROS admins might be able to help. There is also Met000 reply to Lucy1578 about 3 posts up.

[Musicl in reply to AnnieW55]

Thank you for your reply. I didn't speak to the shop assistant at H & B, I telephoned head office and spoke to an advisor. I will try contacting ROS. Many thanks.

[FearFracture]

Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble vitamins. They compete for absorption or uptake and should be taken separately. Additionally, they should be taken w/ food that contains fat to help with absorption.

[Justme16 in reply to FearFracture]

Thanks for clarifying that.

[Justme16]

Thanks for all replies. Will take them separately. I knew re fat soluble. So, both K2 and d3 affect sleep?

I also take nuts seeds etc at breakfast, so, K2 with that and d3 at lunch (with fat)?