If you’re currently supplementing with vitamin D3 and K2 or thinking about it… congratulations! It means that you already understand the value of these two critical nutrients, why they work together, and have made them part of your daily routine. But the less obvious, and possibly more important, question is: what’s actually in the capsule? Most of the D3 + K2 on the market is synthetically mass-produced. It’s not organic, and it’s not vegan. If you’ve ever considered upgrading, here are three reasons that may help you decide.
Reason #1: The Source of Your Vitamin D3 Is a Key Indicator of Quality
Vitamin D3, like all vitamins, can be produced through various methods and standards. According to ConsumerLab, the D3 in most supplements is chemically synthesized from lanolin, the waxy oil in sheep’s wool (no, seriously). Lanolin is chosen because it is cheap and plentiful, but most people don’t know that because the source of the D3 is rarely disclosed on the label.
There are, however, non-animalsources of vegan D3 that are completely different. The most notable is lichen. Lichen is one of the oldest partnerships in nature, two organisms (a fungus and an alga) bound together. It’s a living organism that grows on rocks or tree bark in cold conditions. It is one of the few natural non-animal sources of genuine vitamin D3.
That’s why lichen is the D3 source of choice for brands that put sourcing first.
Reason #2: You Never Have to Worry About Sacrificing Purity or Bioavailability
The big question on everyone’s mind is whether plant-based D3 works as well. For decades, “vegan vitamin D” simply meant the D2 form of the vitamin. A 2012 meta-analysis in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Tripkovic et al.) found that D3 is more effective than D2 at raising blood levels of vitamin D.
D3 from lichen is not D2. It is cholecalciferol, the same structure as the D3 from lanolin or from your own skin on a sunny afternoon. Same vitamin, just a different starting place.
That rationale extends to vitamin K2 as well. MK-7 has a far longer half-life in the body than vitamin K1. A 2007 paper by Schurgers and colleagues in the journal Bloodshowed that theMK-7 form of vitamin K2 accumulated to levels many times greater than K1 with daily intake. That difference comes from the form, not from higher doses.
Reason #3: The Organic Seal Goes Well Beyond the Vitamins
Of all the supplements on the market, only a fraction are certified USDA Organic. Products that carry the certification must prove through extensive documentation that at least 95 percent of the formula is certified organic. These standards prohibit genetic engineering, synthetic fertilizers and irradiation, and certified operations are inspected at least once a year.
It also goes beyond the vitamins and minerals and includes the capsule and other ingredients. Many standard D3 + K2 preparations use gelatin softgels, an animal-derived protein. An organic vegan product, however, uses a plant-based capsule. From the inside out, there’s no cutting corners.
How We Make Our Vitamin D3 + K2 From Organic Sources
When we created PlantFusion® Organic Vegan Vitamin D3 + K2, we took special care to ensure that it meets all three of the standards above. Each capsule contains 5,000 IU of plant-sourced vitamin D3 (VegD3® from lichen) and 50 mcg of fermented vitamin K2 as vitaMK7® (MK-7). Together, they help keep your bones healthy and support your body’s use of calcium.† It’s USDA Certified Organic, certified vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher, in an organic vegetarian capsule with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Boy, talk about standards!
Daily dosage is just one capsule with a meal containing fat, as both D3 and K2 are fat-soluble vitamins. Always check with your healthcare provider before you start taking something new, especially if you take medication. Vitamin K can interact with blood thinners such as warfarin.
Switching to an organic vegan D3 + K2 means that you gain the peace of mind that comes from knowing it’s sourced and made to a higher standard. The routine and the reasons you began stay the same.
If you’ve been reaching for the same conventional bottle for years, it may be time to upgrade.
Make the switch to Organic Vegan Vitamin D3 + K2 →
†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.
