Recommendations for vitamin D3 differ from country to country. While taking 400 to 800 international units a day is recommended in some countries, the guidelines for Central Europe recommend everyday supplementation in the dosage from 800 to 2000 international units in the period from September to April.
Bones are living matter and are constantly being renewed, generated and decomposed.
At the early age, the bones are intensively built, while after the age of thirty the bone mass begins to decline and already from the age of fifty there is a higher risk of developing brittle, porous bones and fractures, especially in women due to falling oestrogen. However, huge loss of bone mass is not a problem only for older women, but this also affects men. The risk of losing bone mass is higher if sufficient bone density has not been ensured in youth.
Osteopenia represents a reduced bone density and is often a precursor to the disease - osteoporosis. The loss of bone mass is greater in osteoporosis, the bone structure changes, the bones become very porous and easily broken. Bone fractures occur very easily, especially after a fall, but also during minor injuries that do not usually lead to bone fractures, and sudden movements, lifting loads or pressure on the bone. Fractures most commonly happen on the vertebrae, hip, forearm bones or wrist and can lead to permanent consequences and disability.
A Silent Bone Thief
Osteoporosis is considered an insidious disease, and it is also called the silent bone thief. It is most often detected when the first fracture happens, because this is when the pain occurs. The good thing is that it can be largely prevented and it is said that prevention is more successful than the treatment itself.
So, don’t hesitate, pay attention to your diet, take enough calcium and vitamin D3, but also other minerals and vitamins that contribute to bone health. Get going! Exercise is basic thing to prevent osteoporosis, walking, running, dancing, yoga, weights exercises are excellent choice. Exercise is not only good for stimulating the bone building, but it also helps strengthen the muscles and prevent falls.
Although osteoporosis is a silent disease, there are risk factors that can help you discover whether you are at risk for osteoporosis: if some of the family members has osteoporosis, if your life style is such that you are not enough physically active, if you do not take enough calcium and vitamin D3 in your diet, if you are of gentler built and thin, if you are hunched, if your height reduced, or if you have previously broken a bone after falling from your own height. Osteoporosis is more common in women who have not had a pregnancy, who have entered early menopause or have had their ovaries removed. Also, people who use medicines such as corticosteroids, or consume alcohol and cigarettes are at higher risk of osteoporosis.
If you have one or more risk factors and especially if you are older than 65, consult your doctor and perform all necessary check-ups. To prevent but also to treat osteoporosis one must provide for enough vitamins and minerals, especially calcium and vitamin D3.
It is recommended to take daily calcium from 1000 to 1200 mg, i.e. 1500 mg for postmenopausal women. Care should be taken of the total intake of calcium through food and supplements, and maximum amount should not be exceeded, which is 2000 mg a day for people older than 50. There is a lot of calcium in dairy products, green vegetables, sardines, and this should definitely be kept in mind when taking supplements.
In order for the body to absorb calcium and incorporate it into the bones, it needs vitamin D, but also vitamin K2.
Joined Vitamins D3 and K2
Vitamin D enhances absorption of calcium from the digestive tract and its incorporation into the bones. It also has a positive effect on numerous other body functions like immune system and muscle function. The body can mostly produce sufficient vitamin D3 by itself through the skin and with the help of sunrays, but during the periods when there is not enough sun, it is necessary to take vitamin D3 with food or through dietary supplements. The food which is richest in vitamin D3 is the North Sea fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, but this food is usually not sufficiently represented in the daily diet.
Vitamin D3 is present in small amounts in eggs, butter, mushrooms, dairy products enriched with vitamin D, but insufficient to provide the daily needs for vitamin D3.
Recommendations for vitamin D3 differ from country to country. While it is recommended in some countries to take 400 to 800 international units a day, guidelines for Central Europe recommend everyday supplementation in the dosage from 800 to 2000 international units over a period from September to April, depending on the body mass. Elderly should take vitamin D3 over the whole year. Maximum daily intake of vitamin D3 is 4000 IU, however, in some special cases, in some diseases or in case of heavy vitamin D3 deficiency, the doctor can recommend taking higher doses of vitamin D3 over a certain period. Taking higher doses of vitamin D3 should always be supervised by a doctor.
Vitamin K2 is also important for the health of bones because it helps vitamin D3 to incorporate calcium into the bones, increasing their strength and resistance to cracking. Besides, Vitamin K2 prevents incorporation of calcium into blood vessel walls, contributing to the health of cardiovascular system. Vitamin K2 can mostly be found in meat, cheese, eggs, bananas and fermented foods. The recommended daily intake refers to vitamin K and it amounts to 90-120 mcg a day for adults.
Eunova Duo Protect D3 + K2 provides for a daily dose of vitamin D3 and K2 in one capsule. It contains high doses of vitamin D3 (1000 and 2000 IU) and 80 mcg of vitamin K2 in the form of MenaQ®7 which has better utilization and efficiency.
The product is of high quality, does not contain preservatives, artificial colours, soy, milk proteins, lactose and gluten. It is suitable for a vegetarian diet. It is a food supplement - food for special medical needs.
