By Mandy Ide, MPH
Vitamin D – The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin”, is produced in your body when your skin is exposed to the sun. As your skin absorbs sunlight, vitamin D is stored in your body in an inactive form. When needed, the vitamin D, through several chemical processes in the liver and kidneys, is converted into an active form of vitamin D that our body can use, called calcitriol.
What are other sources of vitamin D?
Foods
Although sunshine can be a great source of vitamin D, it may not always be converted into the form our body can use, making it necessary to get it from the foods we eat or from supplements. Vitamin D occurs naturally in foods such as tuna, salmon, liver, mushrooms, cheese, and egg yolks. Other foods, such as cereal, orange juice, and milk are fortified with vitamin D to help provide the recommended daily amounts of vitamin D.
Supplements
Supplements are another great source of vitamin D. There are only a few foods that contain vitamin D and it isn’t likely that one would consume enough to obtain the necessary amounts of vitamin D. Additionally, being outdoors to access sunshine for prolonged periods of time may not always be possible, making supplementation a beneficial choice.
Why is Vitamin D important?
Vitamin D is an extremely important nutrient in the body and it has many functions, including:
- managing calcium levels in the bloodstream;
- helping to maintain bone and teeth health;
- promoting immune health; and
- helping to maintain heart health.
Getting the recommended amount of vitamin D each day is essential for maintaining overall health.*
Why choose nutraMetrix Isotonix Vitamin D® with K2?
nutraMetrix Isotonix Vitamin D® with K2 contains vitamin D3, the metabolically active form of vitamin D, along with vitamin K2, a form of vitamin K which supports vascular health and calcium utilization. nutraMetrix Isotonix® Vitamin D is the first of its kind to deliver both powerful vitamins with isotonic delivery.*
Why is vitamin K included in nutraMetrix Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2?
Vitamin K is included in this product because of its unique partnership with vitamin D. Vitamins K and D work together to promote healthy calcium absorption and utilization. Vitamin K supports the delivery of calcium to the bones and helps maintain arterial health.*
Is nutraMetrix Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2 safe for people on anticoagulant medications?
Some studies have concluded that vitamin K2 does not interfere with anticoagulant medications. However, most products containing vitamin K (including K1 and/or K2) warn users taking anticoagulants not to take the product. Studies show a strong relationship between long-term anticoagulant treatment and reduction in bone mineral density. Presumably this is due to insufficient osteocalcin production. Anticoagulants may lead to increased risk of fracture and reduction in bone mineral density. If you are currently taking warfarin or another anticoagulant medication, you should consult your healthcare provider about the benefits or contraindication for taking any product contains vitamin K1 or K2.*
Visit www.nutrametrix.com to learn more about nutraMetrix Isotonix Vitamin D® with K2.