Why the D3 + K2 + Calcium combination is so effective
More than 53 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are at an increased risk for developing the condition sometime during their lifetime. While osteoporosis can occur to people at any age, it’s much more common in women, especially postmenopausal women, and older adults.1
Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and a structural deterioration of bone tissue resulting in fragile bones and an increased risk for fractures of your hip, spine, and wrist. During childhood and your teenage years, your body is adding new bone faster than old bone can be removed. However, once you’ve reached your peak bone mass, which is typically by your late 20’s, bone resorption slowly begins to overtake bone formation.2
[do_widget id=promo_post_widget-3]Women usually experience the quickest loss of bone in the first few years after menopause has started, and then it continues into their post-menopausal years. Osteoporosis can also occur in women as well as men when bone loss occurs too quickly or when bone formation occurs too slowly, especially if you don’t reach optimal peak bone bass during your bone-building years.3
While many genetic and lifestyle factors have an influence on your risk for developing osteoporosis, diet is believed to be one of the most important, especially the roles that are played by calcium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2.4 A diet that is consistently lacking in these three factors can make you more susceptible to bone loss.
But, calcium alone can’t do the trick
Supplementing with calcium promotes bone mineral density and strength. It can also help prevent osteoporosis as you age, especially if you’re post-menopausal. But, it can’t do it alone.
Recent studies have provided evidence of the balance that needs to be maintained between calcium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2 in order for calcium to provide you with optimal protection against osteoporosis.
[do_widget id=list_post_widget-4]Vitamin D3 promotes calcium reabsorption in your gut and helps to maintain adequate serum calcium (and phosphate) concentration to enable normal bone mineralization.5 However, recent scientific evidence suggests that elevated consumption of calcium supplements can raise your risk for heart disease and can be connected to accelerating the deposition of calcium in your soft tissues and the wall of your blood vessels. Vitamin K2 has been associated with the inhibition of the calcification and stiffening of your arteries, thereby lowering your risk for calcium-associated health risks.6
Put it all together
By striking the right balance between your intake of calcium, vitamin D, and K2, you may not only prevent the development of osteoporosis, but could also prevent the calcification and stiffening of your arteries, reducing your risk of heart disease.
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However, since the 1950s, our consumption of vitamin K2 has slowly decreased, and even if you’re eating a well-balanced diet, you might not be getting sufficient amounts of K2 to satisfy the needs of your body.
The same goes for vitamin D3, which doesn’t occur naturally in many foods. While your body can produce D3 when exposed to UV-B radiation from the sun, with the heightened awareness of skin cancer and the use of sunscreens, many people don’t get sufficient exposure to produce enough vitamin D3.
The good news is that there are healthy supplements available such as GHT’s plant-based Synergistically Vegan: a Vitamin D3 + K2 + Calcium Liquid Spray. While you can’t stop the aging process, you can help to prevent osteoporosis by supplementing with the calcium included in Synergistically Vegan.
References
1 Osteoporosis Overview, IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care) | NCBI.
2 ibid.
3 ibid.
4 Advani Sonoo and Sunil J Wimalawansa, Bones and nutrition: common sense supplementation for osteoporosis, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
5 Vitamin D, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
6 Katarzyna Maresz, Proper Calcium Use: Vitamin K2 as a Promoter of Bone and Cardiovascular Health, InnoVision Professional Media.
NOTE: IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care), National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, ODS, InnoVision Professional Media and Integrative Medicine A Clinician’s Journal, have not reviewed or approved the above article.
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