Supplements

Menaquinone-7 is the premier, long-chain form of Vitamin K2, delivering sustained 24-hour activation of protective proteins to guide calcium into bone matrix and away from soft tissues, serving as a foundational nutrient for lifelong cardiovascular and skeletal resilience. 1. Overview: Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is a specific, long-chain member of the vitamin K2 family, derived primarily from fermented natto. Distinguished by its extended half-life (~72 hours) and high bioavailabil

Inositol is a vitamin-like sugar alcohol that functions as a fundamental signaling molecule, best known for restoring insulin sensitivity in PCOS and calming the nervous system by supporting neurotransmitter receptor function and cellular communication. 1. Overview: Inositol, often referred to as Vitamin B8 (though not a true vitamin), is a cyclic sugar alcohol with nine stereoisomers. Myo-inositol (MYO) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are the most biologically significant. They

Tocopherols are the premier lipid-soluble antioxidant family, with alpha-tocopherol reigning as the essential vitamin E that halts destructive lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, protecting cardiovascular and neurological integrity. 1. Overview: Tocopherols are a class of organic compounds comprising Vitamin E activity. Alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol) is the form recognized to meet human requirements, acting as the body's primary chain-breaking antioxidant in lipid environm

Menaquinones is the family of bacterial-synthesized vitamins, with long-chain forms like MK-4 and MK-7 serving as sustained-release guardians of cardiovascular and skeletal health by activating proteins that properly direct calcium into bones and away from arteries. 1. Overview: Menaquinones, known as Vitamin K2, are a family of compounds with polyisoprenyl side chains of varying lengths (MK-4 to MK-13). They are produced by bacteria and are particularly effective at activati

Phylloquinone commonly known as Vitamin K is a plant-sourced, rapid-acting conductor of the clotting cascade, essential for life-saving coagulation while also playing a newly appreciated role in cardiovascular health by activating key bone and arterial proteins. 1. Overview: Phylloquinone, or Vitamin K1, is the primary form of vitamin K found in plants. It is preferentially used by the liver to activate clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) and proteins C & S, making it critical

Cholecalciferol Vitamin D prohormone forged from sunlight and diet, master-regulating calcium for skeletal integrity while orchestrating a vast symphony of gene expression critical for immune resilience, cellular health, and systemic balance. 1. Overview: Cholecalciferol, known as Vitamin D3, is a secosteroid hormone precursor synthesized in the skin upon exposure to UVB radiation. It undergoes sequential activation in the liver and kidneys to form calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyv

Vitamin B12 is the largest and most complex vitamin, acting as the indispensable custodian of neurological integrity, the key to healthy blood cells, and the silent partner in DNA synthesis and cellular energy, requiring precise mechanisms for absorption. 1. Overview: Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin with a central cobalt atom. It exists in several forms, primarily as methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin in the body, which serve as cofactors for two critica

Folate is the essential architect of DNA and RNA, the critical donor of methyl groups that silence genes and detoxify compounds, and a non-negotiable nutrient for fetal development and rapid cell growth. --- 1. Overview: Folate (Vitamin B9) is a water-soluble vitamin whose metabolically active form, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), serves as the primary methyl donor in the methylation cycle. It is fundamental for DNA synthesis and repair, red blood cell formation, and the c

Vitamin B6 is a versatile director of amino acid metabolism, guiding the synthesis of neurotransmitters, supporting hormone balance, and playing a critical supporting role in methylation and immune function through its active coenzyme forms. --- 1. Overview: Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in six interrelated vitamers, with Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate (PLP) serving as the principal active coenzyme form. PLP is a cofactor for over 150 enzymes, primarily involved i

Pantothenate is the omnipresent "everywhere" vitamin, forming the core of Coenzyme A—the central shuttle that fuels the citric acid cycle, builds fatty acids, hormones, and neurotransmitters, while supporting adrenal resilience. --- 1. Overview: Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) is a water-soluble vitamin that is exclusively used to synthesize coenzyme A (CoA) and acyl carrier protein (ACP). CoA is the indispensable "handle" for acyl groups, making B5 fundamental to over 100 diff

Riboflavin is the vibrant yellow engine of energy metabolism, transforming food into cellular power while safeguarding tissues against oxidative stress. A cornerstone of the B-complex, essential for vitality from mitochondrial function to healthy skin. --- 1. Overview: Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a water-soluble vitamin that serves as the foundational precursor for the critical coenzymes flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). These coenzymes are in

Molybdenum is a critical trace mineral that serves as the indispensable heart of key enzymatic systems, most notably sulfite oxidase—the crucial detoxifier of sulfites—and plays a vital role in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids, purines, and certain drugs, acting as a fundamental guardian of cellular and neurological health. 1. Overview: Molybdenum is an essential trace element that functions exclusively as a cofactor for a small group of enzymes known as molybd

Silicon is an essential trace element that acts as a critical cross-linking agent in the synthesis and stabilization of collagen and elastin, serving as a fundamental architectural component for healthy bones, joints, skin, hair, and nails, while also playing a vital role in the integrity of vascular walls and connective tissue resilience. 1. Overview: Silicon, in its bioavailable form as orthosilicic acid [Si(OH)₄], is a bioactive trace element recognized for its crucial rol

Aluminum is a highly abundant, non-essential metal pervasive in the modern environment, with no known biological function in humans, whose accumulating body burden has become a subject of significant scientific scrutiny for its potential neurotoxicity and role in chronic disease, necessitating a strategy of informed avoidance rather than supplementation. 1. Overview: Aluminum is a lightweight, reactive metal with no role in human biochemistry. Its omnipresence—from cookware a

Fluoride is the ionic form of the element fluorine, renowned for its proven role in preventing dental caries by strengthening tooth enamel and supporting bone mineral density, yet positioned at the center of enduring public health debates regarding safety, ethics, and optimal exposure levels. --- 1. Overview: Fluoride is the anion (F⁻) of the element fluorine. It is not classified as an essential nutrient for human growth or life, but it is recognized as a "beneficial element

Manganese is an essential trace mineral that acts as a key cofactor for a diverse array of enzymes, driving antioxidant defense, bone formation, metabolism, and neurological function—yet demands respect for its narrow window between essentiality and neurotoxic potential. --- 1. Overview: Manganese is a trace mineral primarily functioning as an essential constituent or activator of metalloenzymes. It is critical for the activity of superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a primary mitoc

Chlorine is a vital halogen element that, in its ionic form as chloride, serves as the body's primary extracellular anion—a crucial partner to sodium in maintaining fluid balance, nerve impulse transmission, and as the key component of stomach acid, enabling protein digestion and pathogen defense. 1. Overview: Chlorine is typically discussed in human nutrition in its safe, stable ionic form: chloride (Cl⁻). As one of the major blood electrolytes, chloride works inextricably w

Bromine is a naturally occurring halogen commonly used in industrial applications and flame retardants, with no known essential function in human biology and emerging concerns about its potential to disrupt thyroid function and act as a neurodevelopmental toxicant with cumulative exposure. --- 1. Overview: Bromine is a halogen element (group 17) found in nature, but unlike its relatives iodine and chlorine, it is not considered an essential nutrient for humans. Its primary re

Cobalt is a trace element with a profound Jekyll-and-Hyde nature: in its organically bound form, it is the irreplaceable, life-sustaining core of Vitamin B12, essential for nerve function and blood formation; in its free, inorganic ionic state, it is a potent toxicant linked to cardiomyopathy, thyroid disruption, and cellular damage. 1. Overview: Cobalt is a transition metal that exists in biological systems primarily in two distinct forms with opposite effects. As the centra

Strontium is a bone-seeking trace mineral that exhibits a unique dual mechanism: simultaneously promoting new bone formation while slowing existing bone resorption, making it a subject of significant interest and controversy in the management of osteoporosis, yet one that requires careful navigation due to its complex interaction with bone mineral density testing and potential cardiovascular risks. 1. Overview: Strontium is an alkaline earth metal that closely mimics calcium