Most of us have heard of vitamin D, but did you know that it needs other vitamins and minerals to do its job properly in the body? Read on to find out which ones, what they do, and how you can make sure you’re helping this important vitamin to work as best it can!

What does vitamin D actually do?

Vitamin D is an important nutrient which promotes normal immune system function and is associated with a healthy infant birth weight. Perhaps the primary, and most well-known, function of vitamin D is that it helps the body absorb and use calcium, an essential component of strong bones and teeth. A deficiency in calcium can lead to osteoporosis later in life.

How do we get vitamin D?

The main way we get vitamin D is through sun exposure, although you can also find a small amount in fatty fish and fish oils. It is difficult to get enough vitamin D through diet alone, so those with limited sun exposure may benefit from a supplement.

People who tend not to have enough sun exposure to make sufficient amounts of vitamin D include:

people who work indoors for long periods
people who cover their skin for cultural or religious reasons
fair people who avoid sun exposure due to risk of burning
people with darker skin
people who live in southern areas of Australia (there may not be enough sun in winter in these areas)
people with an increased need, such as the elderly and pregnant women.

How does vitamin K2 help?

Vitamin K2 helps to control the amount of vitamin D made by the body and keep it in homeostasis (this means keeping the amount stable so that the body has enough vitamin D, without making too much).

Vitamin K2 activates a protein which moves calcium from the blood and into the bones and teeth.
Once the level of calcium in the blood drops, the body makes more vitamin D.
More calcium is absorbed and goes back into the blood stream.
The cycle repeats.

If blood calcium levels get too high, the body stops making vitamin D which could lead to deficiency.

What about other vitamins and minerals?

But vitamin K isn’t the only ‘helper’! Other nutrients also act as cofactors for vitamin D, meaning they help the body use or absorb the vitamin, including magnesium, boron, zinc and vitamin A.

Magnesium is used in many of the enzymes which help the body use vitamin D, and boron increases the level of vitamin D in the blood.

Both zinc and vitamin A are involved in the vitamin D receptors - these are special areas in the cell that vitamin D ‘fits’ into (like a lock and key) and act like an on switch for a particular activity in the cell. Zinc is a component of the receptor itself, while vitamin A increases the number of vitamin D receptors.

Receptors are found in over 36 areas of the body — not just the bones but immune cells, ovaries, placenta, testes and uterus, demonstrating the importance of vitamin D throughout the whole body.

So what does all this mean for me?

With so many nutrients working together, it is not only important to get enough vitamin D, but also vitamin K2, magnesium, boron, zinc and vitamin A. This can be done by ensuring you get plenty of sunlight (for vitamin D) and a healthy, varied diet, or you could take a supplement for more convenience!

Did you know that Vitamin-D needs help to get the job done?