Vitamin D3 & K2

What this is. Vitamin D3 paired with K2, which directs calcium toward bone rather than arteries. A higher-dose D — check the note below.

One capsule gives 125 mcg of vitamin D3, which is 5,000 IU — 625% of the Daily Value, and above the 4,000 IU tolerable upper intake level for adults. Most products are below the limit. This one is over it, and you should know that before you buy rather than after.

What you are actually getting, per 1 capsule

• Vitamin D3 — 125 mcg, stated on the panel as 5,000 IU (625% DV)
• Vitamin K2 — 200 mcg

There is no extract to standardise here, so there is no arithmetic to show. The one number the panel leaves out is the form of the K2: it says 200 mcg and stops there. It does not say whether that is MK-4 or MK-7, and those two behave differently in the body. We will not guess for you.

Worth knowing before you buy

The adult tolerable upper intake level for vitamin D is 4,000 IU a day from all sources. A single capsule here is 5,000 IU. That is a deliberate formulation choice, not a misprint, and the panel prints it plainly. An upper limit is not a poisoning threshold, but it is the point above which routine long-term intake stops being considered safe without supervision.

So this is a bottle for someone who has a reason to be taking 5,000 IU — ideally a blood test and someone qualified reading it. If you just want a sensible daily amount, this is more than you need, and there is no way to take half a capsule. One a day is the only dose this format offers.

The K2 at 200 mcg is a substantial amount as K2 goes. It is also the ingredient here with a real, well-documented drug interaction. See the cautions.

How to take it

One capsule a day, with water, ideally with a meal containing some fat, since both D3 and K2 are fat-soluble. Thirty capsules, so one a day is 30 days.

Other ingredients

Hypromellose. The capsule shell is hypromellose rather than gelatin, so it is suitable for vegetarians. The panel declares no allergens.

Cautions

Vitamin K2 interacts with warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists. Warfarin works by blocking vitamin K, so taking 200 mcg of K2 a day can reduce its effect and shift your INR. If you take warfarin, acenocoumarol or any similar anticoagulant, do not start this without telling the doctor or clinic who manages your dosing. Vitamin D at this level also warrants care if you have high blood calcium, kidney disease, sarcoidosis or another granulomatous condition, or if you are already taking another vitamin D supplement, a multivitamin containing D, or a prescribed dose — the 5,000 IU here counts towards your total, not on top of an allowance. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not exceed the recommended dose. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication or living with a medical condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting this or any supplement.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.