From the Guidelines
The combination of magnesium, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin K2 can have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), by addressing magnesium deficiency, which is common in IBD patients, and promoting calcium absorption and gut health [ 1 ].
Key Effects on the GI Tract
- Magnesium deficiency is prevalent in 13-88% of IBD patients, leading to symptoms such as abdominal cramps, impaired healing, fatigue, and bone pain, and can be addressed through supplementation [ 1 ].
- Vitamin D3 supplementation is recommended alongside calcium supplementation to support bone health and potentially improve gut health [ 1 ].
- Oral magnesium supplementation should be used with caution, as it can worsen diarrhea in some patients [ 1 ].
Important Considerations
- Monitoring and management of micronutrient deficiencies, including magnesium, vitamin D, and calcium, are crucial in IBD patients to prevent malnutrition and support overall health [ 1 ].
- Disease activity can influence micronutrient levels, and interpretation of blood test results should consider C-reactive protein (CRP) levels [ 1 ].
- Calcium and vitamin D supplementation can help address deficiencies and support bone health in IBD patients [ 1 ].
From the Research
Effects of Combining Magnesium, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin K2 on the GI Tract
- The combination of vitamins D3 and K2 has been shown to have a positive impact on the gut microbiota, with an increase in gut microbial diversity and an improvement in the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio 2, 3.
- Vitamin D3 supplementation has been found to increase the abundance of health-promoting probiotic taxa, such as Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium 2.
- The combination of vitamins K2 and D3 has been shown to improve long COVID symptoms, reduce fungal translocation, and decrease inflammation in individuals with long COVID 3.
- Magnesium absorption has been found to be influenced by vitamin D, with pharmacological doses of vitamin D increasing magnesium absorption in both vitamin D-deficient and vitamin D-replete animals 4.
- However, there is evidence to suggest that a substantial amount of magnesium absorption occurs independent of vitamin D, and that vitamin D may reduce magnesium retention through increases in urinary magnesium excretion 4.
Gut-Brain Axis and IBS Syndrome
- The complexation of vitamin D3 with cyclodextrin nanosponges has been shown to enhance its efficacy and mitigate liposaccharide-induced damage in the gut, reducing ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and cytokines levels 5.
- This novel form of vitamin D3 has also been found to improve the neurodegenerative condition in both healthy and IBS models, suggesting its ability to preserve efficacy and beneficial effects even in IBS conditions 5.
Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporosis
- The combined administration of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 has been found to increase bone mineral density of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, compared to calcium administration 6.
- This combination has been shown to be more effective than either vitamin D3 or vitamin K2 alone in increasing bone mineral density 6.