Why is Vitamin D3+K2+A vital for healthy ageing?

I recently sat down with the Founder of Wild Atlantic Health, Jon Amm and top nutritional Therapist Dr Barbara Barrett based near Kinsale. I wanted to get the scoop on this Irish brand that's making a difference across Ireland increasing people's Vitamin D levels and is making a mighty difference to people's health. Barbara recently completed a PhD in natural medicine and is an expert in Vitamin D3 and K2 and Jon has done extensive research on Vitamin D3 following his own cancer diagnosis. The Wild Atlantic supplement is getting 5 star reviews with some amazing testimonials from customers.

Why is Vitamin D often misunderstood?

Jon explained that Vitamin D is commonly mistaken for a vitamin but functions more like a hormone. Consumed as vitamin D3 through food, supplements, or sunlight on the skin, the body converts it into calcitriol, a steroid hormone. This active form supports a variety of bodily functions, including bone and muscle health, anti-inflammatory effects, and enzyme production to prevent diseases.

Why is Vitamin D3+K2 vital for healthy ageing?

I put this question to Barbara, she said that Vitamin D is well known for bone health.  In the elderly adequate levels of Vitamin D counter the decline in immunity and slows telomere shortening or ageing. As a hormone it regulates over 2000 genes, playing a key role in slowing the "hallmarks of ageing", from mitochondrial health to DNA repair. Adding Vitamin K2 can reduce neuronal death in Alzheimer’s and may lower dementia risk by 40%. Vitamin A boosts immunity, it’s excellent for skin, eye health, (a common challenge for the ageing), and cellular health. 

She explained that in Ireland 50% of adults are low or deficient in Vitamin D.  Up to 500,000 people suffer from osteoporosis and osteopenia which is linked to deficiency.  Considering our northern latitude, we get minimal UV light from October to April each year. Even during summer most people’s levels are likely to be half of that needed for optimal health.  Ageing, indoor lifestyles, sunscreens and higher BMI all limit Vitamin D production and absorption. 

Jon went on to explain about this in more detail, he said that Vitamin D influences aging by regulating telomere length. These are like shoelaces and act as the protective caps on chromosomes that maintain DNA integrity. Longer telomeres correlate with a younger biological age, while shorter ones indicate faster aging. Vitamin D helps preserve telomere length, potentially slowing biological aging.

How can you naturally increase Vitamin D levels?

Sun exposure is key said Barbara,- approximately 20 minutes on the face, arms and legs (without sunblock), when the sun is at its high point. Some of you will need less time than that, you don't want to turn pink, so get to know what level works for you. For young children this could be 5-10 minutes per day without sunscreen. Living in Ireland, this isn't always possible which is why we developed our Wild Atlantic Health Vitamin D3+K2+A supplement. 

How do supplements help with Vitamin D deficiency?

Myself and Jon talk about supplements, such as vitamin D3, as an effective way to address deficiency, particularly for those with limited sun exposure or dietary intake. People should aim to take 1,000 IU per 25kg of body weight.  Unfortunately if you are deficient or insufficient 1000 IU of Vitamin D supplementation will only increase your levels by 12 nmol/L. As a company we always say Test, Don't Guess so that you can baseline and personalise your D3 dose to reach optimal levels.

Why take Vitamin D3 with K2 for anto-aging?

Barbara explained that Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 work better together and should be taken with a fat-containing meal. This could be something as simple as a bit of butter on your bread or toast. 3,000 IU is an ideal daily dose of Vitamin D for a 75kg person, enhancing energy, sleep and thyroid function thereby supporting healthy ageing. Vitamin K2 is found in fermented foods like cheese, kefir and chickpeas. As an Irish brand Wild Atlantic has the highest K2 dose of 300 mcg which helps prevent arterial calcification, promoting cardiovascular health and channelling calcium to the bones, limiting frailty and promoting longevity.

How does Vitamin K2 influence heart disease risk?

I was interested to talk about the benefits of Vitamin K2 and how it could influence heart disease risk. Barbara said that Vitamin K2, particularly in the form of MK-7 activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which inhibits calcium deposits in arterial walls. This reduces vascular calcification, a major contributor to coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular events like heart attacks. By preventing arterial stiffness and plaque buildup, vitamin K2 supports healthier blood vessels and circulation.

I wondered if there was any research to support this statement as preventing arterial stiffness and plaque build up sounds good to me. Barbara told me how Vitamin K2 is one of the unsung hero's of health supplements. Observational studies, such as the Prospect-EPIC cohort (16,057 women, 8.1-year follow-up), found that for every 10 mcg/day increase in Vitamin K2 intake, the risk of cardiovascular disease (CHD) decreased by approximately 9%.  Similarly, the Rotterdam Study (4,807 participants, 10-year follow-up) reported that higher vitamin K2 intake (≥32 mcg/day) was associated with a 41% lower risk of CHD and a 52% reduction in severe arterial calcification.  Wild Atlantic Vitamin D3+k2+A has the highest therapeutic dose of K2 at 300 mcg per 2 capsules which is beneficial for people with high levels of heart disease risk. Sounds good to me.

I like that it also contains Vitamin A as well as Vitamin D3 and K2 because Vitamin A also plays a role in ageing. Here's how explains Jon, Vitamin A, with vitamin D3, supports anti-aging by promoting skin health, immune function, and cellular integrity, potentially enhancing ageing through telomere preservation. Vitamin A is amazing for eye and skin health. Jon told me that Vitamin A helps get D3 into the nucleus of the cell, essentially Vitamin A gets Vitamin D to where it needs to be, I found this really interesting. Vitamin A supports DNA repair Jon continued, and cellular integrity, potentially enhancing anti-ageing benefits. Together, they bolster immune function, reducing age-related immune decline. Another benefit is to support bone health, as vitamin A aids in bone re-modelling alongside vitamin D3’s role in calcium absorption.

How often should we test and what's the target level?

Barbara recommend Testing your D3 levels twice a year at the end of summer and then end of winter. Aim for a level of at least 125 - 180 nmol/L - which is optimum for healthy ageing. Knowing your levels helps you to tailor your D3 dose 
to your body's own biochemistry.

Let us know if you have any questions about this amazing Irish product.