| Our highest potency vitamin D product, providing 10,000 IU of vitamin D per serving. Vitamin D Ultra 10K contains a higher therapeutic dose than our Vitamin D Supreme (5,000 IU/serving), and is intended for situations where more aggressive vitamin D repletion is required. Our lower dosage option, Vitamin D Synergy (2,000 IU/serving), should be considered for maintaining optimal blood levels of vitamin D for long-term supplementation in patients exposed to adequate sunlight. Vitamin D Ultra 10K also includes vitamin K in both K1 and the MK-7 form of K2, which is highly bioavailable. Both of these forms of vitamin K are important to our health: Vitamin K1 (the naturally occurring form of vitamin K in vegetables) and Vitamin K2 as MK-7, which is a product of soy fermentation (free of soy allergens) and has the special property of metabolizing slowly throughout the day. Vitamins D and K are essential for optimal bone and arterial health and for maintaining the immune system in proper balance. We now know how important vitamin K is for directing the transport of calcium into bone and teeth for optimal strength. Increasing the amount of vitamin D, via supplementation, in the presence of inadequate levels of vitamin K, can increase the risk of calcium deposition in arteries and soft tissue and have a negative effect on artery elasticity. This is due to the interaction of both vitamin K and vitamin D with matrix Gla protein (MGP), which is a strong inhibitor of arterial calcification. The expression of MGP is vitamin D dependent and the gamma-carboxylation step, making it active, is vitamin K dependent. CAUTION: Vitamin K may adversely interact with anticoagulation drugs known as blood thinners. Patients taking these medications should be medically supervised while taking Vitamin D Ultra 10K. |
