Protect+ 5

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This exclusive formula is designed to support the balance and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the body. Help protect your bones, heart, immune health and much more with Protect+.*

This unique, high-potency formula features: 

  • 300mcg of a double micro-encapsulated bioactive all-trans K2VITAL Delta MK-7  
  • 125 mcg (5,000 IU) of vitamin D3 
  • Efficacious amounts of vitamin A and vitamin E  
  • AstraGin (astragalus membranaceus and panax notoginseng) to promote maximum absorption and delivery of fat soluble vitamins in the body  

Vitamin K2 (MK-7)

Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in many biological processes. Western diets are limited in vitamin K2, so vitamin K2 must be obtained through supplementation as well. K2 activates proteins involved in calcium metabolism, including osteocalcin, controlling the transport and distribution of calcium from arteries and soft tissues into bones.

Among all of the K vitamins, vitamin K2 MK-7 exhibits the best bioavailability and longest half-life, with a half-life of 72 hours compared to two hours observed with K1. Due to its quick uptake and long half-life, K2 MK-7 reaches bones and vessel walls more easily, resulting in more effective activation of proteins, like osteocalcin.  Osteocalcin proteins in the body must be activated to distribute calcium to our bones. These proteins are unlocked and activated by all-trans K2 MK-7. Protect+ contains >99% of the double micro-encapsulated bioactive form of vitamin K2 MK-7, identical to the all-trans K2 MK-7 found in nature and is fully bio-active providing the full benefits of vitamin K2 MK-7.


Some supplements containing cis MK-7 are still available on the market, despite it being considered biologically inactive and therefore potentially ineffective. Due to the shape of the molecule, cis MK-7 cannot bind to the sites of enzymes, meaning the vitamin K-dependent proteins remain inactivated. On the other hand, all-trans MK-7 is bioactive, therefore it is important for supplements to include the highest possible percentage of this form of vitamin to achieve the desired health benefits. 

Areas of clinical interest and potential roles for MK-7:

Most of the new published research has been with higher dosing featured in Protect+ and has been demonstrating effects on new pathways, proteins, and cells. This includes ATP function in mitochondria, antioxidant effects, cardiovascular function, brain health, gut health, and more.

 

Vitamin D

Recent research suggests that vitamin D supplementation may help promote cellular health and healthy aging. Vitamin D3 works by increasing the amount of calcium absorbed from the small intestine, helping to form and maintain bones. Vitamin D benefits the body by playing a role in immunity and controlling cell growth. Vitamin D has been shown to support biochemical processes linked to aging, including a healthy inflammatory response,  autophagy, cell signaling, anti oxidative status and telomere integrity.  There is growing evidence of the role Vitamin D may have in protecting against osteoporosis, high blood pressure, immunity, and many other health conditions. 

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a nutrient that is essential for many different functions in the human body. Vitamin A, also known as retinol, plays an important role in bone growth, tooth development, reproduction, cell division, gene expression, and regulation of the immune system. Vitamin A is also necessary for the maintenance of healthy skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a number of serious health problems, including blindness, poor wound healing, and increased susceptibility to infections. Vitamin A is also an important antioxidant that may play a role in prevention and healthy aging. 


Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an important nutrient that offers a range of benefits for the body. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, which means it helps to protect other nutrients from damage. For example, vitamin E helps to protect vitamins A and C, as well as essential fatty acids, from destruction. Vitamin E also helps to protect red blood cells from damage. This is important because red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body.


AstraGin®

AstraGin® is a natural compound derived from the roots of two traditional Chinese herbs: Panax notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceous which contain astragaloside I, II, IV and ginsenoside Rb1. AstraGin® has shown in over a dozen in-vitro studies to improve the absorption of vitamins, amino acids, peptides, folate, glucosamine and other nutrients in Caco-2 cell, the gold standard used by drug companies to study the absorption of new drugs.


References:

Vitamin K2 MK-7:

  • Lal N, Berenjian A. Cis and trans isomers of the vitamin menaquinone-7: which one is biologically significant? Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Apr;104(7):2765-2776. doi: 10.1007/s00253-020-10409-1. Epub 2020 Feb 3. PMID: 32009201.
  • Sato T, Inaba N, Yamashita T. MK-7 and Its Effects on Bone Quality and Strength. Nutrients. 2020 Mar 31;12(4):965. doi: 10.3390/nu12040965. PMID: 32244313; PMCID: PMC7230802.
  • Knapen MH, Braam LA, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks AP, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thromb Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44. doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675. Epub 2015 Feb 19. PMID: 25694037.
  • Simes DC, Viegas CSB, Araújo N, Marreiros C. Vitamin K as a Powerful Micronutrient in Aging and Age-Related Diseases: Pros and Cons from Clinical Studies. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Aug 25;20(17):4150. doi: 10.3390/ijms20174150. PMID: 31450694; PMCID: PMC6747195.
  • Pisoschi AM, Pop A, Iordache F, Stanca L, Geicu OI, Bilteanu L, Serban AI. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory roles of vitamins in COVID-19 therapy. Eur J Med Chem. 2022 Mar 15;232:114175. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114175. Epub 2022 Feb 4. PMID: 35151223; PMCID: PMC8813210.

Vitamin D: 

  • Chang SW, Lee HC. Vitamin D and health - The missing vitamin in humans. Pediatr Neonatol. 2019 Jun;60(3):237-244. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2019.04.007. Epub 2019 Apr 17. PMID: 31101452.
  • Martens PJ, Gysemans C, Verstuyf A, Mathieu AC. Vitamin D's Effect on Immune Function. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 28;12(5):1248. doi: 10.3390/nu12051248. PMID: 32353972; PMCID: PMC7281985.
  • Ao T, Kikuta J, Ishii M. The Effects of Vitamin D on Immune System and Inflammatory Diseases. Biomolecules. 2021 Nov 3;11(11):1624. doi: 10.3390/biom11111624. PMID: 34827621; PMCID: PMC8615708.
  • Abiri B, Vafa M. Vitamin D and Muscle Sarcopenia in Aging. Methods Mol Biol. 2020;2138:29-47. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0471-7_2. PMID: 32219739.

Vitamin A:

  • Bar-El Dadon S, Reifen R. Vitamin A and the epigenome. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Jul 24;57(11):2404-2411. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1060940. PMID: 26565606.
  • Conaway HH, Henning P, Lerner UH. Vitamin a metabolism, action, and role in skeletal homeostasis. Endocr Rev. 2013 Dec;34(6):766-97. doi: 10.1210/er.2012-1071. Epub 2013 May 29. PMID: 23720297.
  • Stephensen CB, Lietz G. Vitamin A in resistance to and recovery from infection: relevance to SARS-CoV2. Br J Nutr. 2021 Dec 14;126(11):1663-1672. doi: 10.1017/S0007114521000246. Epub 2021 Jan 20. PMID: 33468263; PMCID: PMC7884725.
  • Cantorna MT, Snyder L, Arora J. Vitamin A and vitamin D regulate the microbial complexity, barrier function, and the mucosal immune responses to ensure intestinal homeostasis. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol. 2019 Apr;54(2):184-192. doi: 10.1080/10409238.2019.1611734. Epub 2019 May 14. PMID: 31084433; PMCID: PMC6629036.

Vitamin E: 

  • Pekmezci D. Vitamin E and immunity. Vitam Horm. 2011;86:179-215. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-386960-9.00008-3. PMID: 21419272.
  • Casati M, Boccardi V, Ferri E, Bertagnoli L, Bastiani P, Ciccone S, Mansi M, Scamosci M, Rossi PD, Mecocci P, Arosio B. Vitamin E and Alzheimer's disease: the mediating role of cellular aging. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2020 Mar;32(3):459-464. doi: 10.1007/s40520-019-01209-3. Epub 2019 May 3. PMID: 31054115.
  • Corina A, Rangel-Zúñiga OA, Jiménez-Lucena R, Alcalá-Díaz JF, Quintana-Navarro G, Yubero-Serrano EM, López-Moreno J, Delgado-Lista J, Tinahones F, Ordovás JM, López-Miranda J, Pérez-Martínez P. Low Intake of Vitamin E Accelerates Cellular Aging in Patients With Established Cardiovascular Disease: The CORDIOPREV Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2019 May 16;74(6):770-777. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gly195. PMID: 30165472.
  • Moriguchi S, Muraga M. Vitamin E and immunity. Vitam Horm. 2000;59:305-36. doi: 10.1016/s0083-6729(00)59011-6. PMID: 10714244.

AstraGin®:

  • Chang, Tsu-Chung et al. “Effect of ginsenosides on glucose uptake in human Caco-2 cells is mediated through altered Na+/glucose cotransporter 1 expression.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry vol. 55,5 (2007): 1993-8. doi:10.1021/jf062714k
  • During A, Harrison EH. Mechanisms of provitamin A (carotenoid) and vitamin A (retinol) transport into and out of intestinal Caco-2 cells. J Lipid Res. 2007 Oct;48(10):2283-94. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M700263-JLR200. Epub 2007 Jul 20. PMID: 17644776.
  • Reboul E, Goncalves A, Comera C, Bott R, Nowicki M, Landrier JF, Jourdheuil-Rahmani D, Dufour C, Collet X, Borel P. Vitamin D intestinal absorption is not a simple passive diffusion: evidence for involvement of cholesterol transporters. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 May;55(5):691-702. doi: 
  • Reboul E. Vitamin E intestinal absorption: Regulation of membrane transport across the enterocyte. IUBMB Life. 2019 Apr;71(4):416-423. doi: 10.1002/iub.1955. Epub 2018 Oct 11. PMID: 30308094.


Caution: Individuals taking more than 50 mcg (2,000 IU) of Vitamin D per day should have their vitamin D levels monitored. This product is not intended for long term use and should be used under the supervision of your doctor. 

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