Vit D cofactors confusion

[Gingernut44]

Hello all, I'm re-writing this post as it seems my post from yesterday got lost in the ether (and not for the first time !!)

I know I need to get my Vit D up from my latest blood test result but I'm a bit confused regarding the cofactors that I need to take with it. Am I getting enough Vit K2 - MK7 in the Nattokinase I'm taking, 2,000 FU x 2 per day. Also, magnesium - I had a full calcium profile bloods on 11.6.19 where my serum magnesium level was 0.90 mmol/L [0.7 - 1.0], does that indicate that I don't need more magnesium. As I have an elevated creatinine level 111 umol/L [45.0 - 84.0], I don't know whether I should be supplementing magnesium - I'm totally confused.

Now my B12 tested 11.6.19. I have been supplementing with Igennus B Complex (one per day as advised by Admin) for two months and it has risen well - B12 Active 186 [37.5 - 188] and folate has risen to 15.09 [3.89 - 19.45]. Do I need to stop taking the B Complex or should I take a maintenance dose of say one or two tablets per week.

Any advice on the above would be appreciated. TIA

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gingernut44

I had no idea what Nattokinase as a supplement was used for so I've looked it up and found this

How does it work?

Nattokinase "thins the blood" and helps break up blood clots. This might protect against heart disease and conditions caused by blood clots such as stroke, heart attack, and others.

As D3 aids absorption of calcium from food, the role of K2-MK7 as a cofactor of Vit D3 is to direct the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

magnesium level was 0.90 mmol/L [0.7 - 1.0],

That is a very narrow range for magnesium, I don't know if that's typical. However, magnesium tests are unreliable, and from what I've read it would seem that most magnesium is in the cells (which isn't tested) not in the blood. A couple of articles about magnesium testing not being reliable:

easy-immune-health.com/magn...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/201...

As for your B Complex, if it was me I'd go onto a maintenance dose, take one say Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and retest in 6 months.

[Gingernut44 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SS, it's all so mind boggling. When I googled Vit K2 MK7 it came up with nattokinase as a source ?? So I thought, I'm already taking that !! It seems to be doing its job as my blood pressure has dropped considerably without the need for meds which I couldn't tolerate.

Back to the drawing board- many thanks for your time, GN44

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Gingernut44]

I've had a quick Google and it seems that Natto and Nattokinase have different roles and both are produced from soy beans.

My understading is that Natto is made from fermented soy beans, and during the fermentation process the enzyme Nattokinase is produced that is isolated from Natto.

You can buy a Vit K2-MK7 supplement which is made from Natto.

You can also buy Vit K2-MK7 with Nattokinase - so it's a different supplement containing both K2-MK7 and the enzyme Nattokinase.

You can buy Nattokinase as a stand alone supplement, but that's not the same as Vit K2-MK7.

Here's an article which is interesting, and it lists the benefits of Nattokinase which I was unaware of

draxe.com/natto/

It looks as though a Vit K2-MK7 with Nattokinase might be a good supplement for some people who would benefit from the addition of Nattokinase as long as they aren't on any blood thinning medication already.

Not sure I could eat Natto though!

[Gingernut44 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Seaside Susie, so sorry to be late replying but the usual happened, I was so exhausted that I dozed off to sleep in the sunshine - hope I don't go like a lobster later! !

I think I must have sparked some interest in natto/nattokinase. It was something I came across from an American site (isn't it always) because I was looking for something for my high blood pressure, having tried all three types of blood pressure tablets and not being able to tolerate any of them. So far, I've been able to tolerate these capsules and my blood pressure has definitely come down so I'm pleased with that.

Apparently, the Japanese like eating the real stuff for breakfast (ugh) looks really sticky. I'm sure it's an acquired taste but not for me either !

You've done some good research which I hope will enlighten lots of people on the forum who may have problems like mine.

Many thanks, GN44

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Natto is fermented soya used a lot in Japan. It's K2 which we take together with Vitamin D.