Advice on Vitamin D, K2 and Folate

[AlphaWolf5195]

Hi Everyone

I have recently had a range of blood tests done, unfortunately I don’t seem to have any results for thyroid which they were supposed to do. My GP has asked me to make an appointment to speak to her, so I’ll ask why I haven’t got any results for thyroid and whether the test was done.

What I would like advice on is vitamin D, I have been taking D3 supplements for many years prescribed by my GP but I think I remember seeing on here that if you take vitamin D supplements you should also take vitamin K2, is this correct? Should I be taking vitamin K2? If so what dose should I be taking?

I am on 800iu Fultium D3 plus I take a calcium supplement which also has 100iu vitamin D in it.

Vitamin D serum 25-HO vit D3 level - 99 nmol/L (no range) normal

Serum Folate 18.3 nmol/L (range 8.8 - 60.8) normal

Although my folate is slightly higher than my last result it is still nearer the bottom end of the range, should I be taking a folate supplement? If I should can anybody recommend a good one please. How far through the range should folate be?

I take the following supplements, Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, Omega 3 and Viamin C with Zinc.

Thanks for any advice given.

[greygoose]

I remember seeing on here that if you take vitamin D supplements you should also take vitamin K2, is this correct?

It is indeed correct, yes. And that is because taking vit D increases absorption of calcium from food, and the K2-MK7 makes sure it goes into the bones and teeth and doesn't build up in the arteries and soft tissues.

For some reason, doctors nearly always prescribe vit D with calcium and it is rarely necessary. I wonder if they know why they do it, because doctors know less about nutrients than they do thyroid!

In fact, it totally undesirable because supplementary calcium is very difficult to absorb at a cellular level and does build up in the arteries and soft tissues. You can buy supplements that are vit D + vit K2-MK7, which is a much better option.

Although my folate is slightly higher than my last result it is still nearer the bottom end of the range, should I be taking a folate supplement?

You would be better off taking a B complex with melthylfolate, which will keep the Bs balanced, because they all work together. Igennus is a good one, or Thorne basic B. There are many posts about the best B complexes on here, so maybe do a search and see what other opitons are available.

[AlphaWolf5195 in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks for your reply and all your help, I’ll have a look at your suggestions and finding a B complex supplement and also look into Vitamin K2 MK7. I take the calcium supplement because without it my calcium levels drop too low.

[greygoose in reply to AlphaWolf5195]

Even with taking vit D? That should keep your calcium levels up. Have you had your parathyroid hormone levels checked?

[AlphaWolf5195 in reply to greygoose]

I have been on calcium supplements for years. When I was first put on D3 I stopped the calcium supplement but my calcium results dropped out of range, I don’t know exactly what the results were as my GP just said they were too low and advised me to start supplementing calcium again, this was years ago.

I have no idea whether I have ever had my parathyroid tested, certainly not recently, I have had low calcium for over 20 years.

The only blood tests I have results for are below and I was on calcium and also a separate D3 supplement for both of them.

23/1/24

Serum calcium 2.33 (2.15-2.55)

Serum adjusted calcium 2.37 (2.20-2.60)

29/9/22

Serum calcium 2.19 (2.15-2.55)

Serum adjusted calcium 2.1 (2.2-2.6)

I’ll ask my GP when I speak to her whether I have ever had my parathyroid checked.

Thank you for all the advice

[greygoose in reply to AlphaWolf5195]

Given that your calcium has been low for years you'd think they'd make a bit of effort to find out why, not just throw supplements at you.

[AlphaWolf5195 in reply to greygoose]

I have come to the conclusion that unless you make a fuss, nothing gets sorted probably when it comes to health and the NHS.

[greygoose in reply to AlphaWolf5195]

I think that's true. Doctors just don't care anymore.

[Merrymoo in reply to AlphaWolf5195]

I'm not sure what form of calcium supplementation you are taking, but citrate or hydroxyapatite are much more absorbable than carbonate. Carbonate is an inferior form, but cheaper, so is normally the one dispensed by GPs. You may not need as higher dose to get the same result with these forms. Just a thought.

[AlphaWolf5195 in reply to Merrymoo]

Many thanks for your reply, I never thought about calcium coming in different forms, I have just checked my tablets and they are calcium carbonate so I will look into the other 2 forms you suggest.

[Marz in reply to AlphaWolf5195]

Do you have calcium tested ? How low is low for you ?

Did your GP tell you that VitD is fat soluble ? So best to buy a gel capsule containing olive oil. Or take tablet with a good fat...

[AlphaWolf5195 in reply to Marz]

Many thanks for your reply. I don’t know what my results were when my calcium was too low, I was just told it was too low and to supplement it. The results below are when I am supplementing both calcium and also vitamin D3, my GP says I’m at a good level now, so keep supplementing it.

23/1/24

Serum calcium 2.33 (2.15-2.55)

Serum adjusted calcium 2.37 (2.20-2.60)

29/9/22

Serum calcium 2.19 (2.15-2.55)

Serum adjusted calcium 2.1 (2.2-2.6)

The Vitamin D3 I take is prescribed and it Fultium D3 and is a blue gelatin capsule.

[FallingInReverse]

FYI, general guidance is 100 mcgs mk-7 a day.

Research on K is light, but some will say 100 a day and some say 100 per 1000 ius of D a day. Either way, research also says it’s probably very hard to overdo it (within reason). We do get K from our diet as well.

I did take 100 per 1000 D for a bit but settled on 100 a day, as I think most people on here do.

[AlphaWolf5195 in reply to FallingInReverse]

Many thanks for your reply, that helps a lot, I’ll have a look into it and see if I can find a supplement of that dose.