Protect+ 5

Protect+5 — Comprehensive Fat-Soluble Vitamin and Nutrient Absorption Support

Balanced Protection for Bone, Heart, and Immune Health

Fat-soluble vitamins do not work in isolation. Protect+ 5 was formulated around how they work together.*

Vitamins K2, D3, A, and E are each essential for long-term health — but their biological functions are deeply interconnected. Vitamin D3 supports calcium absorption, but without K2 to direct where that calcium goes, absorbed calcium can deposit in the wrong places. Vitamin A supports immune function and cellular renewal, but without Vitamin E protecting its stability, it oxidizes before reaching its targets. Vitamin E protects cell membranes, but optimal activity requires the fat-soluble environment that D3 and A help maintain.*

Protect+ 5 delivers all four fat-soluble vitamins in their most bioavailable, clinically validated forms — alongside AstraGin® to support absorption — in a single daily formula designed to provide the fat-soluble vitamin foundation that every other longevity intervention builds upon.*

KEY SUPPORTED BENEFITS

Protect+ 5 is formulated to support:*

• Healthy calcium metabolism — directing calcium to bones and teeth, away from soft tissues and vasculature*
• Bone density, skeletal strength, and connective tissue integrity*
• Vascular flexibility and healthy arterial calcification defense*
• Immune function, T-cell activity, and balanced inflammatory response*
• Cell differentiation, tissue renewal, and mucosal barrier integrity*
• Broad-spectrum lipid-soluble antioxidant protection*
• Fat-soluble vitamin absorption and bioavailability through AstraGin®*
• Healthy gene expression associated with calcium homeostasis and cellular longevity*

THE FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMIN SYNERGY

Why K2, D3, A, and E Belong Together

Most practitioners think of K2 and D3 as a pair — and they are. But Vitamins A and E complete the fat-soluble vitamin system in ways that are clinically important and frequently overlooked.

D3 activates calcium absorption and supports immune gene expression — but without K2 to activate the osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein (MGP) that direct calcium appropriately, the calcium D3 mobilizes can accumulate in vascular smooth muscle and soft tissue rather than bone matrix.*

K2 (as MK-7) activates both osteocalcin in bone and MGP in vascular tissue — the two proteins responsible for ensuring calcium flows into bone and away from arteries. This is why the D3-K2 combination addresses both bone health and vascular calcification defense simultaneously, through complementary and sequential mechanisms.*

Vitamin A works alongside D3 through shared nuclear receptor pathways — both vitamins regulate gene expression through the retinoid X receptor (RXR), which forms heterodimers with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) for D3 and the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) for Vitamin A. Both vitamins are therefore needed for optimal downstream gene expression.*

Vitamin E stabilizes the other fat-soluble vitamins — protecting Vitamins A and D3 from oxidative degradation in the lipid environment of cell membranes and lipoproteins, extending their effective circulating activity.*

Protect+ 5 delivers all four in a single formula — because fat-soluble vitamin nutrition is a system, not a set of individual supplements.*

THE FORMULA

K2VITAL® Delta (Vitamin K2 as MK-7, Double Microencapsulated)

Dose: 300 mcg Role: Calcium Direction, Bone Matrix Support & Vascular Calcification Defense by Balchem (formerly Kappa Bioscience) · World's Only Patented Double-Microencapsulated K2

Vitamin K2 as MK-7 is the most biologically active and longest-lasting form of supplemental vitamin K2 — with a 72-hour half-life compared to K1's 2–4 hours, and far superior tissue distribution and bone/vascular activity compared to K2 as MK-4.

K2VITAL® Delta is the most advanced K2 MK-7 ingredient available — the world's first and only patented double-microencapsulated vitamin K2 preparation. This distinction matters clinically:

The stability problem with conventional K2: Vitamin K2 MK-7 is naturally sensitive to degradation — particularly in the presence of minerals (calcium, magnesium), alkaline environments, and manufacturing pressure. Independent testing across hundreds of commercially available K2 products found that most contain significantly less K2 than their labels claim by the time they reach the consumer, due to degradation during manufacturing, blending, and storage.*

K2VITAL® Delta's double-coated microencapsulation technology protects MK-7 from mineral degradation, with stability superiority confirmed across over 400 tests of finished products — achieving MK-7 recovery rates above 95% in calcium and mineral formulations where conventional K2 would degrade.*

K2VITAL® Delta maintains a minimum 99.7% all-trans isomer purity — the fully bioactive form identical to the K2 molecule found in nature. The cis-isomers found in lower-quality K2 ingredients are not biologically active and do not activate K-dependent proteins.*

Clinical Evidence — K2VITAL® MK-7:*

• A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology demonstrated that Vitamin K2 MK-7 combined with Vitamin D3 significantly impeded the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) — directly validating the vascular calcification defense mechanism at the heart of Protect+ 5's D3+K2 combination.*
• MenaQ7 Proof of Concept study (Knapen et al., Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 2015): 180 mcg MK-7 daily for 3 years significantly improved arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women versus placebo*
• Multiple clinical trials confirm MK-7 supplementation increases osteocalcin carboxylation, supporting bone matrix mineralization and healthy bone density in aging adults*
• K2VITAL® has been used as the reference standard in the AVADEC, RENAKVIT, and TAKEOVER clinical trials*

Biological mechanisms:*

• Activates osteocalcin — the protein that binds calcium into bone matrix, supporting bone density and strength*
• Activates Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) — the most potent known inhibitor of vascular calcification, preventing calcium deposition in arterial walls*
• Supports healthy carboxylation of all vitamin K-dependent proteins across bone, vasculature, kidney, and brain tissue*

At 300 mcg, Protect+ 5 delivers K2VITAL® Delta at the upper end of the clinically studied supplemental range — providing meaningful MK-7 activity across both bone and vascular tissue.*

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)

Dose: 125 mcg (5,000 IU) Role: Calcium Absorption, Immune Gene Expression & Cellular Signaling

Vitamin D3 is the most physiologically active form of supplemental vitamin D — the form produced endogenously in the skin upon UV exposure and the form that undergoes activation to 25(OH)D3 in the liver and 1,25(OH)2D3 (calcitriol) in the kidneys.*

At 5,000 IU, Protect+ 5 delivers D3 at a clinically meaningful dose for individuals with suboptimal vitamin D status — which includes the majority of adults in northern latitudes, those with limited sun exposure, darker skin tones, obesity, or age-related declining D3 synthesis efficiency.*

Vitamin A (Retinol)

Dose: Clinically appropriate dose Role: Cell Differentiation, Mucosal Immunity, Tissue Renewal & D3 Synergy

Vitamin A (as retinol) is essential for a wide range of biological processes that are directly relevant to longevity and clinical health:

Cell differentiation and tissue renewal: Vitamin A regulates the differentiation of stem cells into specialized cell types across skin, respiratory epithelium, intestinal epithelium, and immune tissue — supporting the ongoing tissue renewal processes that maintain organ function with age.*

Vitamin E (d-alpha Tocopherol)

Dose: Clinically appropriate dose Role: Lipid-Soluble Antioxidant Defense, Membrane Integrity & Fat-Soluble Vitamin Stabilization

Vitamin E is the body's primary lipid-soluble chain-breaking antioxidant — integrated directly into cell membranes and lipoproteins where it interrupts lipid peroxidation chain reactions before they propagate through the membrane lipid bilayer.*

Unlike water-soluble antioxidants (vitamin C, glutathione) that protect the aqueous cellular compartments, Vitamin E specifically protects the lipid-rich environments that are the site of greatest oxidative vulnerability — cell membranes, mitochondrial membranes, myelin sheaths, and lipoproteins.*

AstraGin® (Astragalus membranaceus + Panax notoginseng Root Extracts)

Dose: 50 mg Role: Fat-Soluble Vitamin Absorption & Bioavailability Optimization 

AstraGin® upregulates key intestinal nutrient transporter proteins — supporting the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins across the intestinal wall.*

Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed through a lipid-dependent process involving bile acid micelles, pancreatic lipases, and specific intestinal transport proteins. AstraGin® supports the expression of these transport systems — including those involved in fat-soluble nutrient uptake — ensuring that the clinically validated forms of K2, D3, A, and E in Protect+ 5 are absorbed efficiently and consistently.*

AstraGin® also supports gut barrier integrity and healthy inflammatory tone in the intestinal environment — contributing to the absorptive surface health that determines fat-soluble vitamin bioavailability at the fundamental level.*

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.