VIT K2 - HELP NEEDED PLEASE...I take InvitaD3 from GP and have for approximately a year, but after reading many posts on here I know I need Vit K2 for Vit D 'to work'. I have tried the 'vegeroo spray brand' which consists of Vit D plus K2 BUT It gave me many sores in my mouth (I have many allergies) so could have been any of the ingredients). I notice one called Lichen in it which is different to many vit D that contain lanolin (from sheeps wool). After carrying out some research on Vit K2 I need the MK4 Version of K2 for Osteoporosis as research said MK4 Is the version that sends the calcium to our bones and not to tissues/veins etc where it's not supposed to go.
Problem, after 'googling K2 +MK4 cannot find a brand on Amazon or anywhere. K2 + MK7 appears to be in all products. I'm aware MK7 Has a much longer 'half-life' and stays in the body much longer than MK4 which doesn't appear to stay in Body long.
I also realise taking 'too much' K2 can be bad...e.g. more thsn 200ug/mcg.
If Holland and Barrett were open I could ring them for advice but they've been closed long time.
If amyone knows of a brand of K2/MK4 could you let me know please and where to purchase it from (with least additives as possible).
Many thanks in anticipation...
So many here have an abbundance of knowledge, unlike me 'a Novice'.
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H&B open down the south coast ... haven't tried the main number on google, but if you google branches all down the coast from Portsmouth to Brighton, they're open and you will find the branch phone numbers ... good luck x
but after reading many posts on here I know I need Vit K2 for Vit D 'to work'.
Vit K2 does not make vit D work. That is magnesium, which you also need to take with vit D.
The point of taking vit K2 is that taking vit D increases absorption of calcium from food, and vit K2 makes sure it goes into the bones and teeth, and doesn't build up in the soft tissues. Both K2-MK7 and K2-MK4 do that.
The difference between MK7 and MK4 is that MK7 is natural, made from fermented soy, and MK4 is synthetic. MK7 only needs to be taken once a day. MK4 has to be taken twice a day to be effective.
Personally, I take vit K2-MK7 by Vitabay, which I buy on Amazon. I take vit D separately in capsule, because I don't like sprays.
If Holland and Barrett were open I could ring them for advice but they've been closed long time.
I certainly wouldn't be taking advice from any H&B staff.
After carrying out some research on Vit K2 I need the MK4 Version of K2 for Osteoporosis as research said MK4 Is the version that sends the calcium to our bones and not to tissues/veins etc where it's not supposed to go.
Let me give you my research into Vit K2 and it's different forms:
Vitamin K2 (menaquinone): Found in animal foods (high-fat dairy products from grass-fed cows, egg yolks, as well as liver and other organ meats) this is the MK4 form, and fermented foods such as natto and sauerkraut which is the MK7 form.
K2, not K1, is the form that directs calcium to bones and teeth and away from soft tissues and arteries. K1 is the blood clotting form.
MK4 has a short life-span., it has a half life of about 1.5 hours and needs multiple doses during the day when supplementing.
MK7 has a half life of about 72 hours, so a once daily dose is enough. So it makes more sense to supplement with MK7.
K2-MK7 comes in two forms. I'm not good with scientific explanations but put simply these are - All-Trans form and Cis form.
All-Trans form v Cis form:
The recommended amount of K2-MK7 is 90-100mcg for up to 10,000iu D3. The best form of K2-MK7 is the All-Trans form rather than the Cis form. The All-Trans form is the bioactive form, the Cis form is inactive (a bit like methylfolate is the bioactive form of folic acid).
There's lots of information available but mainly seems to be on sites selling supplements so I wont link to them, but the message is:
"Since trans-isomer MK-7 are more readily used by our body, they are considered more bioactive. Many K2 ingredients have a mixture of cis and trans isomers, depending on how well they are produced. You’ll want to look for K2 supplements with a high percentage of trans-isomer MK-7, ideally 100%."
The Cis form is cheaper and is what many K2-MK7 supplements use but they don't tell you this.
The All-Trans form can be available as liquid drops, eg Vitabay Organics, or capsule, eg VegaVero. I have used both, they are available from Amazon and maybe other places.
MK7 is fat soluble so should be taken with some dietary fat - traditional English breakfast maybe, or other meal containing fat.
So yes, you need K2, but the MK7 form will be more convenient. You can buy a combination of MK7 and MK4 if you wish.
Hi hels333 I am on the website now and there are a few different types.....all Lamberts but...eg...medino, vitamins for life, healthstuff, fruugo.co.uk naturitas bodykind express chemist...ALL LAMBERTS VIT D3 and K2 but different prices...white carton with blue and red carton? Have they increased your VitD levels? Thanks again
As your Vit D result was mentioned recently as 63.4nmol/L you'd be looking at about 3,500iu D3 daily if you follow the guidance from the Vit D Council to reach their recommended level.
With the Lamberts KD3/K2 it contains 1000iu D3 and 90mcg K2.
Best to be aware that 90-100mcg K2 is sufficient for up to 10,000iu D3.
As for prices, you shop around and buy from either the cheapest or one that has been recommended.
Thank you for reply seasideSusie. My brain is 'mincemeat' at the mo and has been for a long time...just too tired and don't recollect/take 'things in good' so prob repeat myself unsure . GP will only give me 25,000 iu INVITAD3 Once a Month. I only recently (few days) am trying Vegavero K2 + d3 spray once daily with main meal...
It has D3 20ug and vitk2 75ug per dpray.....I have new carton of cytoplan selenium 100ug elemental but doesn't say when to take it (morning/evening) nor whether with before afyer food etc.
At the mo I take igennus B Complex about 11:30-12 after breakfast and Vitd k2 spray with dinner 5-6pm
Spray Magnesium on arms legs before bed....
At the mo I just need someone to say take...X Y Z at such n such a time so i can write it down and set alarm to remember not in a good way just now......but great to have you all giving good adbice and much appreciated...when i take invitad3 not sure if it does good as i have osteoporosis in spine and from what I've read on here K2 puts it in bones??!!
I Have NEVER taken vitamin or minerals until I joined your forum on 3rd May and realised I need them now. Vit D September 2019 blood came back as 40 thats why they gave me InvitaD3.....25000 iu
Your 25,000iu D3 monthly prescribed by your GP averages out at 833iu daily. Taking one large dose once a month (known as bolus dosing) is said to be not as effective as taking a smaller dose daily. 833iu daily is a small amount, barely a maintenance dose.
Your Vegavero K3 spray contains 20 mcg of vitamin D3 and 75 mcg of vitamin K2. That is 800iu D3 which again is a small amount, and rather a large amount of K2 for such a small amount of D3.
Your Invita D3 once a month plus one spray of Vegavero daily will give you an average of 1,633iu D3 daily.
As you currently need 3,500iu D3 daily I'd be inclined to take 3,000iu daily in addition to your once monthly 25,000iu.
If you increase the number of sprays you would need 3 or 4 sprays to give the 3,000iu D3, then that would give 225mcg or 300mcg K2. Bear in mind that 90-100mcg K2 is enough.
I have explained above about the different forms of MK7 - as Trans form and Cis form, and it's the Trans form that is the best form to take.
So you need to decide which form/brand of D3 and K2 to take.
If you want recommendations then these are mine:
D3 - Doctor's Best D3 softgels. I choose these because I try to keep excipients to a minimum. This brand has just D3 and extra virgin olive oil. The olive oil provides fat to absorb the D3. They don't do a 3,000iu dose so I'd buy the 2,000iu dose and alternate 1 softgel one day, 2 softgels the next day. By buying the 2,000iu dose this will also possibly the dose you may need once you've reached the recommended level of 100-150nmol/L and will need to change to a maintenance dose.
Thank you for all vital information SeasideSusie....I have 'Nu U Nutrition' Vitamin D3 1000 iu softgel capsules. Ingredients:- Sunflower Oil, capsule shell (gelatine bovine) glycerine, Vitd3 (Cholecalcifetol). I "think' they're probably same as Drs Best except Drs Best contains extra virgin olive oil (oil wise that's much better).
I am due to take a 25,000iu InvitaD3 today and so as to have some K2 was going to spray Vegeroo after.
The K2 drops from Vitabay look a better option via your link.
I was taking selenium in Morning but will take your advice and take in evening
As i take vitd with evening meal is it ok to take selenium also.
I have ordered Vitamin C and zinc which are both due to arrive today.
There's no reason why you can't take Vit D at the same time as selenium. I take multiple supplements at the same time. We just have to remember than iron can't be taken with anything else, it has to be 2 hours away from other supplements.
You're right about extra virgin olive oil being better than sunflower oil.
Thank you, Iron is a supplement I don't have. I have never taken it but then also never been tested to see if I need it....I know B12 was 266, then after a week of taking Igennus Super B Complex it went up to 370 approx.
The product I take is called Lamberts Vitamins D3 and K2, 60 capsules. Product code on Lamberts site is 8144-60. Does that help?
I buy direct from Lamberts. But prices are often cheaper than the full rrp on other websites.
I haven't tested my Vit D levels since my last result of 90 I think it was last year.... can't recall offhand. However, I take this Lamberts supplement all year round, though perhaps now that it's so very sunny, I can stop taking it for the summer as I do get a good hour of sunlight on my skin daily.
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