By Ashley Watson
DaVinci Laboratories® has just introduced a new A • D • K supplement that may cause some raised eyebrows in the medical field. While the combination of vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 is not commonly used in a bone integrity support product, we have developed this product because of some enlightening research.*
The Calcium Paradox
The formula in A • D • K is based on scientific research that examined the synergistic effects of vitamins, A, D3, and K2. In her new book, Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox, Kate Rheaume-Bleue, ND argues that the combination of vitamins A, D and K “are intricately interrelated in complex ways that modern science doesn’t yet entirely understand.” So complex, in fact, that she dedicated an entire chapter solely to the interconnectedness and potential health benefits of combining these three important vitamins.
Dr. Rheaume-Bleue also argues that the “bone-building benefits of vitamin D” depend on vitamin K2, and when vitamin D is “assisted by vitamin A,” this relationship “stimulates the production of osteocalcin”, which is activated by vitamin K2. She contends that these fat-soluble vitamins are “profoundly different” than other nutrients because they bind to proteins, especially K, which allows the proteins to bind to calcium so that it can be better utilized in the body.*
In light of these findings, A • D • K is recommended to help support the following:
The combination of A, D, and K may prove to be an essential tool in supporting bone health during development, after menstruating, and in many other critical periods of a patient’s health history.*
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin with multiple functions in the body, including normal development, growth and maintenance of the skeleton throughout life.* Vitamin A supports the number and activity of osteoclast cells, which break down bone tissue, an ongoing process of skeletal maintenance called bone remodeling.*
Vitamin A supplements may be one of the only reliable sources of this vitamin. Contrary to popular belief, carrots do not contain any vitamin A. This is due to a lot of misleading information available to the public, according to Dr. Rheaume-Bleue. She claims that a deficiency is far more likely than too much vitamin A, which has been a common belief for a long time due to its fat-soluble properties.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining normal calcium metabolism.* It supports calcium absorption in the gut and helps maintain adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone.* Vitamin D3 also supports cardiovascular function and blood pressure within normal ranges.*
Vitamin K2, known as menaquinone (MK- 7), is the form that has been shown to support normal bone formation.* It is responsible for the carboxylation of specific bone proteins that play a regulatory role in bone metabolism.* The benefit of Vitamin K2 versus K1 is that it works primarily outside of the liver in bones and blood vessels.*
Each capsule of A • D • K from DaVinci Laboratories® contains 1,500 mcg of Vitamin A (as Retinyl Palmitate), 125 mcg (5,000 IU) of Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol), and 500 mcg of Vitamin K2 (as MK-7).
What do you recommend for your patients who are looking for a bone health support supplement?* Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page.