vitamins

Unlike so-called vitaminoids, vitamins cannot be produced by our bodies, which is why they must be constantly supplied from outside. They ensure that the metabolism functions properly, they strengthen the immune system and are indispensable in the development of cells, blood cells, bones and teeth. They also regulate the utilization of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and minerals.

A distinction is made between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins, whereas vitamins C and B, for example, are water-soluble. Therefore, vitamin D3 and K2 should always be taken in a fat solution.

vitamin K

Vitamin K owes its name to the fact that it is involved in blood coagulation. Vitamin K is divided into Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone)Vitamin K1 is found mainly in the leaves of green plants, where it is needed for photosynthesis (e.g. in spinach and broccoli). Vitamin K2, on the other hand, is produced by microorganisms and is therefore found mainly in fermented foods such as sauerkraut or some types of cheese. A certain amount of vitamin K2 is also produced in the human intestine. Usually only a very small part of the daily vitamin K2 requirement can be covered by food.

That studies and proven positive effects for the organism to date especially for vitamin K2 (K1 is known to activate the coagulation factor prothrombin in the liver) is probably due to its significantly higher bioavailability and metabolism compared to vitamin K1. The latter is only ~10% absorbed through the intestinal mucosa - the rest is broken down in the liver. In contrast, vitamin K2 is absorbed almost 100% because, unlike K11, it does not remain in the liver but passes from there into the bloodstream and tissue.

A possible vitamin K2 deficiency In addition to diet, it can also be due to disturbed intestinal flora - because part of the vitamin K2 is produced in the intestine. A disturbance of the intestinal flora can be due to certain diseases such as Crohn's disease or to the intake of antibiotics, antiepileptics or laxatives.

It should be noted that vitamin K2 exists in various variants that differ in terms of the length of the chemical side arms (these are referred to as MK4 (menaquinone-4) to MK13 - MK4 and MK7 are the best known and best researched variants to date) or in terms of their spatial structure (cis or trans variant). Cis isomers are formed primarily when vitamin K2 is produced synthetically and not obtained through natural fermentation.

The most effective form of K2 vitamins is menaquinone-7, also called MK7, because it remains available in the blood for over 72 hours, while the majority of MK4 is excreted after just a few hours due to poor binding in the blood. Since the body only trans variant can be used, it is essential to pay attention to this declaration when comparing products. The higher the trans content, the better. If the trans content is greater than 98%, the corresponding product can be called "all-trans".

vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 needs sunlight to be synthesized by the body. This applies to 80-90% of vitamin D3, as the average German only absorbs 2.5 µg of vitamin D through food (e.g. fish, eggs or mushrooms).

Accordingly, a Vitamin D3 deficiency mainly due to low sunlight exposure; this is especially the case in our latitudesThis is the case from October to March. Pregnancy, menopause and puberty can also contribute to a vitamin D3 deficiency due to hormonal changes. And finally, the body's ability to produce vitamin D3 decreases with age, so that vitamin D3 deficiency is more common in older people than in younger people. This is particularly critical because cancer and many other chronic diseases are more common in this phase of life. So it makes sense that naturopathy insists on getting "out into the fresh air". Because there we can soak up the sun's energy even when the sky is overcast.

According to studies by the Robert Koch Institute from 2016, only 38.4% of adults in Germany are adequately supplied with vitamin D. (Source: https://edoc.rki.de/handle/176904/2492)

In the Journal of Health Monitoring 2016 1(2) of the Robert Koch Institute on pages 36 ff states:

"One important function of vitamin D is its involvement in bone metabolism. Among other things, it promotes the absorption of calcium from the small intestine and the hardening of bones. A severe and persistent vitamin D deficiency can lead to softening of bones and deformation of the skeleton, and thus to rickets in infancy and childhood and osteomalacia in adulthood. In old age, a vitamin D deficiency can also contribute to the development of osteoporosis. In recent years, observational studies have also found links between low vitamin D levels and various chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease or cancer. [...] Due to the fact that only a few foods, such as edible fish with a high fat content or mushrooms, contain sufficient amounts of vitamin D, the body's own synthesis accounts for the largest part of the supply, with an estimated share of 80% to 90%. The radiation required for this only occurs all year round in regions below the 35th parallel. At higher latitudes, the intensity and duration of adequate radiation decreases and vitamin D production becomes dependent on the season. This also applies to Germany, which lies between the 47th and 55th parallels. […] Older people and people who rarely go outside or only do so with their skin covered (e.g. because they need care or for religious or cultural reasons) or who have dark skin are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. This also includes people who have chronic gastrointestinal, liver or kidney diseases or who take medication that affects vitamin D metabolism (e.g. antiepileptics or cytostatics)."

Just like Vitamin K also contains vitamin D in different variants. The fact that the Vitamin D3 use in dietary supplements is probably due to the fact that it increases vitamin D levels by approx. twice as effective increases as vitamin D2. This is probably due to the better absorption capacity and longer retention of vitamin D3 in the bloodstream (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28679555/)

Benefits and Effects

following Health Claims are now permitted for vitamins K and D, provided that certain requirements are met, especially with regard tothe dosage are met:

• Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system
• Vitamin D has a function in cell division
• Vitamin D contributes to the normal absorption/utilization of calcium and phosphorus
• Vitamin D contributes to normal calcium levels in the blood
• Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones
• Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function
• Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth
• Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting
• Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones

vitamin K2 is needed for activation of the bone protein osteocalcinAn increased level of non-activated osteocalcin leads to a lower bone density and thus to an increased risk of fracture. vitamin K2 deficiency Too little calcium is stored in the bones and it can lead to osteoporosis Studies have shown that vitamin K2 can significantly reduce bone loss in osteoporosis patients (from a dose of 180 µg vitamin K2 per day). vitamin D3 administered, the two vitamins work synergistically and the bone density increased However, osteoporosis should not be treated with high doses of vitamin D3 alone.

An important role is played by Vitamin K in connection with calciumCalcium is essential for strong bones and teeth; however, it is extremely undesirable in the form of deposits in the blood vessels, which pose the risk of coronary diseases. And this is where vitamin K2 plays a crucial role, by making calcium usable by the body and activating certain proteins such as osteocalcin or the matrix GLA protein. Without vitamin K, these proteins remain ineffective and cannot perform their function in the body. Osteocalcin regulates the mineralization of bones and teeth and ensures that calcium is introduced into the bones. The matrix GLA protein ensures that calcium is not deposited in the vessels, but binds it and transports it away.
This is exactly the mechanism by which K2 prevents osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis:

At a vitamin D deficiency take the bone-building cells (osteoblasts) and the bone volume decreases. This can be corrected by taking vitamin D and more osteoblasts are formed again. However, vitamin D also promotes the maturation of bone-degrading cells (osteoclasts) and thus indirectly promotes bone degradation. This effect of vitamin D is suppressed by taking vitamin K2 at the same time. Furthermore, as described above, vitamin K2 is essential for the body's own production of osteocalcin, a protein that is involved in bone mineralization.

The so-called "Rotterdam Study" has shown that people who have consumed large amounts of vitamin K2 over a period of 10 years have significantly less calcium deposits in the arteries and generally a significantly better cardiovascular health than others.

The sunbathing for example, in the case of tuberculosis patients or people who had to work underground, used medicallySince 1980, it has been known that sunlight has a positive effect even on serious illnesses: Cedric Garland, an epidemiologist at the University of California, showed in a study that many types of cancer were far less common in regions where the sun shone more frequently. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470481/ Later, international population studies confirmed this connection.

Qidosha products

The QIDOSHA product combines the high-quality vitamins D3 & K2 in the ideal dosage in one preparation. It contains MK7 (menaquinone-7), the form of vitamin K2 that has the highest bioavailability, is more fat-soluble and circulates in the blood for the longest time. The trans content relevant to the effectiveness is greater than 98%, making it an "all-trans" product.

Unlike other dietary supplements, we have chosen oil as the dosage form for vitamins K2 and D3 because both K2 and D3 are fat-soluble vitamins and studies such as those by Traub et al. from 2014 suggest that drops/oil as a dosage form are more readily absorbed by the body than tablets or capsules.

Since vitamins K2 and D3 are interdependent, their dosage should always be coordinated. Since K2 activates the proteins formed by vitamin D (see above), it is conceivable that a higher vitamin D supply to the body can easily lead to a vitamin K2 deficiency, as more vitamin K is used to activate proteins. Some studies have shown that a generally useful, high vitamin D level can actually increase the risk of bone fractures if there is a vitamin K deficiency at the same time. Therefore, we do not offer monopreparations with just one of the two vitamins, but rather this combination preparation with a perfectly balanced combination of the two vitamins.