Ingredient guide · Ingredient reference

What an ADK supplement contains: check A, D and K separately

ADK usually names a combination of vitamins A, D and K. A label may use D3 and K2, but the letters do not specify one universal formula or dose.

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Supplement Science Insights Editorial Team

Published September 23, 2026

The letters need their ingredient forms

An archived ADK 5 label in NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database lists vitamin A as retinyl palmitate, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 as MK-4 plus MK-7. That establishes one example of the combination, not the contents of every product sold under an ADK name or its current retail formulation. K2 itself is a family of menaquinones, not a single ingredient amount. [1][2]

Normal functions do not establish a universal need for the combination

Vitamin A supports functions including vision and cellular development. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium absorption and bone mineralization, while vitamin K supports activation of proteins involved in clotting and bone metabolism. These roles do not by themselves establish that a combined capsule improves outcomes for everyone. [3][4][2]

Excess preformed vitamin A is hazardous, especially during pregnancy; excess vitamin D can raise blood calcium. People using warfarin need consistent vitamin K intake and should discuss changes with their clinician. A combination does not cancel the risks of its components. Include other supplements when checking the totals. [3][4][2]

A hypothetical overlap check

Suppose an ADK product and a separate multivitamin both contain vitamin D. Add the vitamin D amounts for the actual servings taken, converting units if necessary. Then perform separate checks for vitamin A and vitamin K. Do not combine the three amounts into one total: they are different nutrients, and their forms and units matter. [3][4][2]

Hypothetical example — keep a combination supplement audit nutrient-specific
Item to compareWhat to record
Vitamin AAmount and preformed versus carotenoid source
Vitamin DTotal from all products, in one unit
Vitamin KForm, amount and anticoagulant context
What an ADK supplement contains: check A, D and K separately — original article outline diagram
Original editorial diagram of this article’s sections; no product photograph or clinical finding is depicted.

Sources for this article

  1. ADK 5 label archived in NIH DSLD
    Source consulted: 2026-09-20. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.
  2. Vitamin K - Health Professional Fact Sheet
    Source consulted: 2026-09-20. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.
  3. Vitamin A and Carotenoids - Health Professional Fact Sheet
    Source consulted: 2026-09-20. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.
  4. Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet
    Source consulted: 2026-09-20. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.