Vitamin D deficiency is a current epidemic in our society today, affecting 90% of the world`s population. According to Vitamin D expert Michael Holick, `We estimate that vitamin D deficiency is the most common medical condition in the world." It is clear that most people are not getting enough healthy sun exposure.

As a clinician, I see very serious health problems associated with long-term vitamin D3 deficiencies. Vitamin D3 deficiency will impact the development and stability of the immune system, the nervous system, and the endocrine system. 

 Why Is Vitamin D important?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It’s essential for many areas of your health, including immune health, bone health, muscle health, brain function, and mental health. 

Vitamin D more resembles a hormone than a vitamin by function. Hormones are chemical messengers that interact with cell receptors to produce specific biological responses. Calcitriol, the active form of Vitamin D, is arguably the most powerful hormone in the body. It has the ability to activate over 1,000 genes, which is roughly 5-10% of the human genome.

Vitamin D3 is also shown to boost glutathione production in the neuronal cells and protect them from damage inflicted by oxidative stress. Vitamin D also helps to modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation throughout the body.

What Are Optimal Vitamin D Levels?

Vitamin D3 levels are most often understated. In the medical world, levels below 32 ng/ml are considered sufficient. 

However, much research has shown this level is only sufficient to prevent the development of rickets but not sufficient enough for optimal function (5). 

Functional medicine doctors use the following ranges for optimal vitamin D3 levels. 

Why Is Vitamin K2 Critically Important?

Vitamin K1 is necessary for blood coagulation and is produced by green leafy vegetables. This form of vitamin K helps assist in the formation of anticoagulant factors, protein C & S.

Vitamin K2 is necessary to convert a critical bone-building protein called osteocalcin. Osteocalcin is a necessary protein that helps maintain calcium homeostasis in bone tissue. 

Inadequate K2 inhibits osteocalcin production and reduces calcium flow into bone tissue. This leads to reduced bone mass and a weakened bone matrix.

Vitamin K2 is found in fermented grass-fed dairy, fermented soy (natto), and some fermented veggies. 

Additionally, if one has leaky gut syndrome or a bad microbial balance in their gut (dysbiosis), they will be unable to synthesize enough vitamin K2. 

Most people are not getting adequate vitamin K2 levels due to a diet deficient in fermented foods and the above-mentioned digestive challenges. 

***Vitamin K2 works in synergy with vitamin D and magnesium to help improve calcium metabolism, immune, muscle, and mitochondrial function.  

What is the importance of Magnesium?

Magnesium is an essential cofactor for vitamin D synthesis, and activated vitamin D, in turn, can increase intestinal absorption of magnesium and, therefore, can form a feed-forward loop to maintain its homeostasis.  

Studies have suggested that magnesium could determine the number of vitamin D receptors; therefore, a deficiency in magnesium levels results in a reduced number of available vitamin D receptors in the target cells.

Additionally, magnesium also plays an important role in the conversion of the inactive form of vitamin D in the liver to 25-OH D3 and then into the active 1,25 calcitriol in the kidneys.  

A magnesium deficiency would lead to poor uptake and conversion of D3 and symptoms associated with vitamin D3 deficiency.

What Is The Synergy Between Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, And Magnesium?

Too much vitamin D3 without the right amount of vitamin K2 and magnesium has been shown to be hazardous. 

Vitamin D3 increases the demand for K2 and magnesium, as well as the potential to benefit through the bone-building proteins osteocalcin and Matrix GLA protein (MGP). 

These proteins activate calcium channels to pull calcium into the bone and out of soft tissue structures. Be sure to consume vitamins D3, K2, and magnesium together for optimal bone and cardiovascular health.

What Is Unique About Our D3/K2 Power?

We formulated D3/K2 Power to contain the optimal ratio of vitamin D3, vitamin K2, and magnesium for optimal cellular function and calcium metabolism.

This formula is the ONLY formula we are aware of that contains this ideal ratio of 5,000 IU of D3, 150 mcg MK-7 form of vitamin K2, and 120 mg of magnesium citrate in a highly absorbable form for optimal delivery of these key nutrients.

What Is The Recommended Dosage? 

Normal Dosage:  1 capsule daily with food (earlier in the day)

Advanced Dosage:  2 capsules daily with food (earlier in the day) for 30–90 days or as recommended by your health care practitioner.

When introducing a new supplement, we recommend taking the lowest dose for 2-3 days. As tolerated, increase the dose until you have reached the recommended normal or advanced guidelines. Reduce to a tolerable dosage if adverse effects occur. 

“MK-7 supplements containing more than 50 mcg/d may interfere with oral anticoagulant treatment (blood thinners), whereas doses of at least 50 mcg are not likely to affect the INR value in a relevant way. (20)”

This supplement does contain 150 mcg of MK-7– so it is not to be used by anyone taking blood thinning treatments.

FAQs

What is the source for Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2?

Leaky gut or intestinal permeability syndrome is a condition in which the gut lining is damaged. In this condition, large food particles, bacteria, and environmental toxins are able to seep into the bloodstream and cause problems in the body. In a healthy body, your gut lining is healthy, and it is naturally semi-permeable. This means that your gut lining allows important micronutrients to pass through tiny junctions or holes into your bloodstream.

We are talking about very small gateways that don’t allow microbes, toxins, and undigested food particles to get through to your bloodstream to keep your body healthy. These pathogens and harmful substances will be eliminated through urine and stool instead. However, inflammatory foods, environmental toxins, chronic stress, gut dysbiosis, infections, and other factors may compromise your gut lining.

Leaky Gut And Chronic Inflammation

Over time, these factors can seriously damage your gut lining and break apart these tiny passageways, creating bigger holes. When bigger holes develop, your gut lining becomes permeable, and you develop leaky gut syndrome or intestinal permeability. This means that microbes, toxins, undigested large food particles, and other pathogens can easily pass into your bloodstream and cause serious damage to your body.

Leaky gut syndrome can increase chronic inflammation, compromise your immune system, and cause chronic health issues. It may result in an ongoing chronic immune response to these foreign substances, which increases the risk of chronic symptoms, autoimmunity, and other health problems.

Reduced Mitochondrial Function And Gut Dysbiosis

Reduced mitochondrial function and gut dysbiosis are also connected. The mitochondria play a vital role in maintaining cellular energy, regulating immune responses, and allowing healthy functioning. If the mitochondria are impaired, it will impact the health and function of the cell. If these cells are located in the gut lining, they can compromise the integrity and health of the intestinal barrier, contribute to gut dysbiosis, and impact digestive function.

In gut dysbiosis, we see an overgrowth of pathogenic aerobic bacteria. In a normal gut flora, the gut microbiome is dominated by anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria thrive in a low-oxygen environment of the healthy colon. Aerobic bacteria can produce histamine and other inflammatory compounds. This may lead to an excessive immune response and increase pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

Thus, people with poor mitochondrial function and related gut dysbiosis may experience poor regulation of the immune and inflammatory response and can experience chronic inflammation and immune system-related issues, such as autoimmunity.

Again, this can turn into a vicious cycle. Gut dysbiosis can increase bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth can increase mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation. This will further increase leaky gut syndrome, immune dysregulation, and autoimmunity, which will then only further contribute to gut dysbiosis. Thus, again, it’s critical that during treatment we focus both on mitochondrial function and gut health. 

Key Nutrients To Support Gut Healing:

The gut needs 3 key compounds in order to heal itself and regulate the gut microbiome.  The goal of these 3 compounds is to strengthen the intestinal cell mitochondria and make the intestinal cells stronger and more resilient. 

Prebiotics:  These are compounds that feed and nourish healthy gut bacteria.

Probiotics:  These are beneficial bacteria that eat toxins and secrete nutrients to support the gut lining.

Postbiotics:  These are compounds released from healthy probiotic bacteria that enhance the function and integrity of the intestinal cell mitochondria.  The most well studied postbiotic is a short chain fatty acid called butyric acid, which acts like mitochondrial medicine in restoring mitochondrial function, especially in the intestinal lining.

The Problem With Most Prebiotics:

The problem is that many types of prebiotics, such as various fibers and polysaccharides from plant-based foods, actually cause more problems for a number of individuals if they have the wrong intestinal ecosystem.  This is because the aerobic, pathogenic microbes will flourish with these fibers and release more toxins and inflammatory compounds.

We need prebiotics that do a few things

1. Provide beneficial nutritional support to healthy gut microbes

2. Bind and help remove toxins and bad microbes

3. Restore key minerals and nutrients for the intestinal cells

Based on these 3 things, the only truly beneficial prebiotic for someone struggling with leaky gut is a unique compound called Shilajit due to its high bioactive fulvic and humic acid and mineral content.  

Shilajit is a blackish-brown, resinous substance found in the high altitudes of the Himalayas and other mountain ranges. It is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine that has been used for centuries. 

• Supports Beneficial Bacteria: Shilajit contains bioactive compounds, notably fulvic and humic acids, that may encourage the proliferation of beneficial gut flora while simultaneously helping to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. This helps maintain a balanced and diverse gut environment, which is crucial for optimal digestion and immune function.

• Enhancing Nutrient Absorption: Fulvic acid's properties include enhancing the transport and absorption of minerals and other vital nutrients into the cells. Improving the efficiency of nutrient uptake from food, it supports overall digestive health.

• Soothing the Gut: Shilajit exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe the digestive tract and reduce gut inflammation.

• Detoxification: Its humic substances may help cleanse the digestive system by binding to and flushing out toxins and heavy metals, creating a healthier environment for beneficial bacteria to thrive.

• Improving Digestive Enzyme Production: Shilajit may support the body's production of digestive enzymes, which are essential for breaking down food effectively. 

The Problem With Most Probiotics:

The problem with most probiotic supplements is that they don’t survive the harsh environment of stomach acid, many don’t actually produce much butyric acid and other beneficial postbiotic compounds, and others may actually cause more traffic and stress in the gut.  

We also need probiotics that do the following:

1.  Spore forming to survive the harsh stomach acid and make it into the intestines alive

2.  Produce abundant amounts of mitochondrial medicine in the form of butyric acid and other beneficial postbiotic compounds.

3.  Release a variety of antimicrobial compounds that inhibit and trim down the amount of aerobic bacteria in the gut.

The only classification of probiotics that fit these standards is the spore forming bacillus strains of bacteria.  We recommend the most well studied bacillus strains, bacillus coagulans and bacillus subtilis.

The combination of these 2 have been shown to be very effective for improving digestive and immune health.  They have been shown to help heal the gut barrier and support the production of sIgA and T-lymphocytes in the gut, which are critical to a healthy immune and inflammatory response.  

The best dosage is roughly 4-8 billion CFU daily of Bacillus coagulans and 2-4 billion CFU of Bacillus subtilis daily.  

The Problem With Most Postbiotics:

There aren’t a lot of postbiotic supplements on the market, but the most well studied postbiotic is butyric acid (or butyrate), which has been shown to 

• Strengthen the Intestinal Cell Mitochondria

• Seals the Intestinal Lining

• Improves the Gut Mucosa and Immune Function

• Supports the Diversity of the Gut Microbiome

• Improves Inflammatory Processes

• Reduces Histamine and Mast Cell Activation

The most commonly used butyric acid compound on the market is sodium butyrate.  This product is good, but it is water soluble, and thus, it releases the salt component (sodium) from the butyrate in the proximal portion of the small intestine. This means that the main benefit is taken in the front part of the small intestine, and it doesn’t make it deeper into the small intestine or impact the large intestine.

CoreBiome is a lipid soluble form of butyric acid, which means it contains butyrate in a fat-soluble form. This lipid-based structure allows it to bypass the stomach and small intestine more effectively than other butyrate supplements, delivering the beneficial postbiotic butyrate directly to the colon, where it is most needed. 

It helps support gut barrier integrity, promotes a healthy inflammatory response, and supports a balanced gut microbiome. 

What Is Leaky Gut Support?

Leaky Gut Support was made from over 20 years of research into intestinal permeability and leaky gut syndrome.  It contains the most effective forms of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in clinically validated dosages.

We combined the power of Shilajit with Bacillus strains of spore forming probiotics and CoreBiome postbiotics.

This is the most powerful supplement to support the intestinal cell mitochondria, balance the gut microbiome, and create a stronger and more stress resilient intestinal lining.

*This product contains 4 billion CFU of Bacillus coagulans and 2 billion CFU of Bacillus subtilis per serving.

What Is the Recommended Dosage?

Recommended Dosage:  Take 1 capsule, 2 times daily with or without food

Advanced Dosage:  Take 2 capsules, 2 times daily with or without food. 

When introducing a new supplement, we recommend taking the lowest dose for 2-3 days. As tolerated, increase the dose until you have reached the recommended normal or advanced guidelines. Reduce to a tolerable dosage if adverse effects occur. 

Why Choose CortiClear Focus PS?

CortiClear Focus PS features 150 mg of non-soy, sunflower-sourced phosphatidylserine (PS) per capsule. Phosphatidylserine is a nutrient that is essential for supporting optimal brain function. There are no foods rich in phosphatidylserine; therefore, supplementation is the only way to support healthy levels of this valuable brain nutrient. The body can make phosphatidylserine, but in far from ideal quantities, and natural production of PS decreases as we age.

Brain function is at its peak in the 20s and then naturally declines throughout the rest of life. In the 40s, many people begin to notice subtle changes in cognition and memory. This decline may be caused by the depletion of nutrients that help maintain the integrity of the membrane of brain cells, the cell's protective outer layer. Phosphatidylserine works by rejuvenating and strengthening this membrane, which helps support brain function and may help with absent-mindedness that can result from the normal aging process.

What Is The Recommended Dosage?

Take 1 capsule per day, or as directed by your health-care practitioner. As with any brain-energizing nutrient, phosphatidylserine is best avoided near bedtime as it may interfere with falling asleep.

When introducing a new supplement, we recommend taking the lowest dose for 2-3 days. As tolerated, increase the dose until you have reached the recommended normal or advanced guidelines. Reduce to a tolerable dosage if adverse effects occur.

FAQ's:

Why is supplementation important for phosphatidylserine?

There are no foods rich in phosphatidylserine, making supplementation the only way to support healthy levels. While the body can produce PS, it does so in far from ideal quantities, and natural production decreases with age. This makes supplementation particularly important for supporting brain function and memory as we age.

How does CortiClear Focus PS differ from Phosphatidylcholine?

CortiClear Focus PS provides phosphatidylserine, which is specifically targeted for brain function, memory, neuron communication, and cortisol normalization. Phosphatidylcholine is primarily targeted for liver health, cell membrane integrity throughout the body, acetylcholine production, and fat metabolism. Both are phospholipids essential for cell membrane health, but they serve different primary functions. PS 150 is ideal for brain and cognitive support, while Phosphatidylcholine is ideal for liver and whole-body cell membrane support.

Who may benefit most from CortiClear Focus PS?

Individuals noticing age-related changes in memory or cognitive function, those under chronic stress who may benefit from cortisol normalization, athletes engaging in intense exercise who want to support healthy testosterone-to-cortisol ratios, and anyone seeking a non-soy, sunflower-sourced brain-support nutrient.