Don’t let the mix of numbers and letters in the title confuse you – Performance Lab’s latest offering is simply a mix of Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2.
It’s a super simple formula, but from our research and experience, it’s an effective one. We’ll learn why the mix of vitamin D3 and K2 is so valuable in a moment, but first, let’s examine each vitamin on its own…
SHORTCUT: If you want to cut to the chase, we’ve reviewed dozens of supplements and believe that Performance Lab D3 + K2 is the best vitamin D formula UK.
Visit the website for Performance Lab D3 + K2 here
Or carry on reading to discover why we chose this special vitamin D supplement as our #1 recommendation.
Table of Contents
What is Vitamin D3 and Why Is it Useful?
You may have heard Vitamin D described as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. That’s because our bodies make vitamin D when exposed to the sun. It’s a powerhouse nutrient that, among other things, helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus – crucial for building and maintaining bone. Eating or drinking all the calcium you want in cheese, yoghurt, or milk, for instance, won’t be half as effective if you don’t also have decent levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D doesn’t just impact bones, however. Laboratory studies show that it can boost immune function, can reduce inflammation, help to control infection – and possibly, reduce the growth of cancer cells. {1. Harvard University, School of Public Health}. Given that many of our tissues and organs also have vitamin D receptors, it is also likely that this super helpful vitamin does a lot more than we currently know – scientists are investigating this notion as we speak.
Vitamin D2 or D3 – Which is Better?
D3 is created in the body when exposed to sunlight
Did you know that there was more than one type of vitamin D? There’s vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol, to give it its full tongue-twister name) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, not that much easier to say.) So, which is best, and which version do you want in your supplement?
Vitamin D3 is much better for you than its D2 brethren. (D3 is also the type of vitamin D your body naturally forms under sunlight). While the body absorbs both forms of vitamin D, it is metabolised differently, and only D3 seems effective enough to raise blood vitamin D levels in any meaningful way.
One study, for example, found that vitamin D3 was 87% more potent in raising serum vitamin D levels in the blood than taking vitamin D2.
So, you should look for D3 in your supplements.
Why do you need a vitamin D supplement?
Because the NHS tells us to supplement!
Here’s the big question: why do we need a vitamin D supplement in the first place? Mmm, let’s think: how much sunlight do we enjoy in the UK during the Autumn and Winter months? Yes, not a lot. It’s also very hard to eat enough vitamin D food sources to compensate. That’s why we need to supplement.
The NHS recommends that everyone should supplement with at least 10 micrograms of vitamin D3 every day, especially during Autumn and Winter (the six months from the beginning of October to the end of March). 10mcg of vitamin D may also be written as 400IU. Performance Lab D3 + K2 includes 25 micrograms of vitamin D3, a generous dosage.
Furthermore, the NHS suggests that people who don’t get outdoors much or who don’t want to expose their skin to the sun should supplement all year round. Likewise, people with dark skin – for example, those with an African, African-Caribbean, or south Asian heritage – likely don’t make enough vitamin D from sunlight naturally, so they should supplement all year round too.
What is Vitamin K2 and Why Is It Useful?
If you haven’t heard of vitamin K2 before, you’re probably in good company. This little-known vitamin isn’t typically mentioned much in the Western diet, which is a shame because it’s an important nutrient. It may even be the missing link between diet and some chronic diseases.
Recognition of its importance is slowly growing since its discovery in 1929. On its own, vitamin K2 is influential for blood clotting, or coagulation.
(Interesting aside: The discovery was first reported in a German scientific journal, and the vitamin was given the name ‘Koagulationsvitamin’ – hence its name as vitamin K.)
There are two types of vitamin K – K1 and K2. Research tends to suggest that K1 offers little discernible benefit, so always opt for K2 in your supplements.
In short, Vitamin K2 is essential for blood clotting and regulating calcium levels in the body. Vitamin K2 works by activating proteins that help to transport calcium from the blood vessels and into the bones, where it is needed for bone health. Without sufficient levels of Vitamin K2, calcium can accumulate in the blood vessels, which can lead to narrow or hardened arteries.
Another potential benefit of Vitamin K2 is an ability to improve dental health. Vitamin K2 is believed to activate proteins that are involved in the mineralisation of teeth and the prevention of cavities, though more human studies are needed.
Why Vitamin D3 and K2 are a Dynamic Duo
If vitamins D3 and K2 have their own important roles to play in the body, what is the point of putting them together? What do they achieve as a pair that they cannot achieve alone?
Here’s where this formula excels. Together, these two vitamins have a powerhouse synergy that influences immunity, bone health, heart health, and more. Let’s take a look….
BONE HEALTH
While Vitamin D3 and K2 have different roles in the body, they work together in a unique way to promote optimal bone health. Vitamin D3 helps to increase calcium absorption in the gut, while Vitamin K2 helps to direct that calcium to the bones. Without sufficient levels of Vitamin K2, calcium can accumulate in the blood vessels, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. By working together, Vitamin D3 and K2 promote healthy bones by helping to prevent this accumulation of calcium, which coincidentally aids cardiovascular health.
Without sufficient levels of Vitamin D3 and K2, calcium can accumulate in the blood vessels, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Research has shown that supplementing with Vitamin D3 and K2 can help postmenopausal women. It helps to improve bone density and reduce the risk of fractures, especially in postmenopausal women. Studies have found that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had a significant increase in bone mineral density after taking Vitamins D3 and K2.
HEART HEALTH
The combination of D3 and K2 is promising for heart health too, thanks to the combined ability to reduce ‘free’ calcium in the bloodstream.
Vitamin D3 helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Vitamin K2, on the other hand, helps to prevent the accumulation of calcium in the blood vessels, which can lead to atherosclerosis and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
In fact, studies have shown that supplementing with Vitamin K2 appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. One Dutch study following almost 5,000 men and women over 55 for a 10-year period discovered that taking 25mcg of vitamin K2 a day reduced the chances of dying from heart disease by 57% and reduced coronary heart disease cases by 41%. (Note that vitamin K1 did not offer the same benefits)
The Pros of Performance Lab D3 + K2
- By adding D3 and K2 together, this clever formula ensures calcium is absorbed AND directed into the bones. Together the two vitamins are much stronger than if they were supplemented alone.
- Performance Lab D3 + K2 includes generous dosages of each vitamin.
- This formula is vegan-friendly, with the vitamin D3 coming from algae.
- The vitamin K2 is made via Performance Lab’s famous NutriGenesis technique, which creates bio-identical nutrients with enhanced absorption rates.
- This formula is also free of allergens such as peanut, fish, egg, shellfish, and wheat; free of gluten and does not contain synthetic or artificial additives, colours, or preservatives.
- Can be safely used alongside any other Performance Lab product such as PL-Immune for extra immune strength or Performance Lab Flex for additional joint support.
- Produced with a minimal ecological footprint.
The Cons of Performance Lab D3 +K2
- Only available from the official website.
- You can buy cheaper supplements featuring vitamins D3 and K2, but we prefer sticking with a trusted manufacturer like Performance Lab.
Any Side Effects?
While the quantities of Vitamin D3 and K2 in this Performance Lab formula are generous, they should not be high enough to cause any significant ill effects. The upper tolerable limit for vitamin D3, for instance, is 100micrograms – four times that of the vitamin D3 in this product.
Vitamin K has no tolerable upper limit as no adverse effects have been reported from taking the vitamin. Recommended daily amounts are up to 90 micrograms a day for women and 120micrograms for men. Performance Lab’s supplement contains 50 micrograms – a safe limit that also allows you to gain further K2 from diet.
Who Is Performance Lab D3 & K2 Suitable For?
Performance Lab D3 and K2 would suit anyone who wants to protect their bone and cardiovascular health. It could potentially be very beneficial for postmenopausal women and/ or the over 50s.
Conclusion
Vitamin D3 and K2 are two essential vitamins that work together in a unique way to promote optimal health. Vitamin D3 helps to strengthen bones, improve immune function, and regulate blood pressure, while Vitamin K2 helps to prevent the accumulation of calcium in the blood vessels and improve bone density.
Together they offer a powerhouse of benefits to bone health and heart health. This is what we like about Performance Lab – the company follows the latest science and produces quality products with top notch manufacturing processes.
We highly recommend Performance Lab D3 + K2.
