Vitamin K and vitamin D are fat-soluble vitamins and have a kind of "shared function" relationship. Vitamin D acts in the body as both a vitamin and a hormone to maintain bodily functions, and has basically two forms, D2 and D3. Their use in the body also varies. Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting. It has 2 types, K1 and K2, and is found in green leafy vegetables, fermented legumes and pickles, egg yolk, and some animal foods such as cheese.
How and where do you get vitamin K and D?
There are several different forms of vitamin K and D. We can list them as follows;
Vitamin K1: The common type is the vitamin K form. It is found in vegetables, especially parsley, spinach and lettuce.
Vitamin K2: It is found in animal foods and fermented foods. Vitamin K2 is actually available as a dietary supplement in combined forms with vitamin K and vitamin D. Vitamin K2 is a subtype of vitamin K and its function in the body is to store calcium.
MK-4: Found in animal foods such as liver, fat, egg yolks and cheese varieties.
MK-7: Formed by bacterial fermentation. It is found in fermented foods such as pickles. It is produced by intestinal bacteria.
Vitamin K is fat soluble and taking this vitamin with fat allows for better absorption. Eating green leafy plants with oil or consuming vitamin K supplementation with a meal with a high fat content helps to increase absorption. Many foods high in vitamin K are rich in fat, such as cheese, egg yolks and meat products.
May interact with some medicines. Vitamin K supplements should not be used without consulting a specialist. If medications that prevent blood clotting are used, foods high in vitamin K should not be consumed in high amounts due to interaction.
Vitamin D is important to ensure the continuation of body functions. It acts as both vitamin and hormone in the body. It basically has two forms, D2 and D3.
Vitamin D2: Contains little vitamin D as a nutrient. Some manufacturers artificially fortify these products with D2 from plants. Foods containing vitamin D2 include mushrooms, dietary supplements and fortified foods.
Vitamin D3: This is the type that comes from animal sources and is also synthesized in the human body.
Consumption of vitamin D through food is very limited, but the best sources include fatty fish and egg yolks. Approximately 19% of our daily vitamin D requirement is met by food, the rest is synthesized in our bodies with solar energy. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency is often seen in individuals who do not benefit enough from the sun.
How Do Vitamin D and K Benefit?
High intake of vitamin D by people with vitamin K deficiency can trigger calcification of blood vessels and heart disease. A high intake of vitamin D leads to excessive levels of calcium in the blood. One of the symptoms of excess vitamin D levels is an intense rise in blood calcium levels.
Hypercalcemia causes calcification of the arteries. In hypercalcemia, calcium and phosphorus levels rise excessively and calcium phosphate is deposited in the blood vessels. Vascular calcification is among the causes of heart disease.
Vitamin K deficiency is linked to vascular calcification. Studies have shown a link between deficient levels of vitamin K and an increased risk of arteriosclerosis. High vitamin K supplementation prevents arteriosclerosis in animals. In a study in rats at risk of calcification, an overdose of vitamin K2 prevented arteriosclerosis.
Vitamin K supplementation prevents vascular calcification in humans. Intensive vitamin K supplementation reduces the risk of heart disease. According to the findings, an increase in vitamin D can cause vascular calcification, while vitamin K supplementation helps to prevent this condition. Although it has been reported that excessive vitamin D levels may cause vitamin K deficiency, this has not been clarified.
Combined Use of Vitamin D and Vitamin K
Vitamin D and vitamin K work together in the body, complementing each other. Vitamin D balances the amount of calcium in the blood and helps its distribution to muscles and bones. After intensive consumption of vitamin D, calcium can accumulate in tissues and organs and cause various problems. Vitamin K, on the other hand, contributes to the content of certain proteins, which prevent abnormal calcium accumulation and ensure that it is transported to the necessary parts.
In short, if vitamin D is consumed excessively or over a long period of time, it may be beneficial to use it together with vitamin K in order to better manifest its functions in the body.