More on vitamin d

I was looking something up and ran across this article, rather scary, calcium build-up in the arteries, increased risk of heart attack or stroke. We are told by our Holistic docs and others that we need Vit. D. What does one believe?

:
Do vitamin D supplements have any side effects?
A:
Quick Answer

Vitamin D supplement side effects include skin rash, irritation and inflammation; calcium build-up in the arteries, daytime sleepiness, headaches, and increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Constipation, cramps, diarrhea, and increased risk of kidney or urinary stones are also vitamin D supplement side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. Continue Reading
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Full Answer

People with low blood sugar or diabetes may need a health care professional to monitor their vitamin D supplement intake; the supplement may affect their blood sugar levels. Vitamin D supplements can also impact blood pressure. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with blood pressure disorders, and those taking herbs or drugs affecting blood pressure should be careful when taking vitamin D, suggests the Mayo Clinic.

Liz

Elizabeth, I just sent you a PM. I hope you got it - new here and it isn't showing up in my Sent folder!

Regarding Vitamin D - I believe it is important, but the thing is to take it with K2. K2 is what helps take that calcium from your bloodstream and put it in your bones. At least, that's my understanding! Some people do better with forms of K2 known as MK7 and MK4 as they are supposedly absorbed better.

Lyla - yes..vitamin D is definitely very important and to address the potential concerns about arterial and other soft tissue calcifications, as you mention, Vitamin K2 in the menaquinone 7 form supplements are recommended. The K2 MK7 form is the longer acting form compared to the menatetrenone 4 form. The recommended preventive dosing of K2 MK7 was initially 180 micrograms (mcg)....Some are recommending even higher doses.

Life Extension has a product combining all of the K forms... called Super K which contains 200 mcg of K2 MK7.
[www.lifeextension.com]

I'm a huge propronent of both Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and the K2 MK7.....Following are a few of my previous posts on the importance of Vitamin K2 MK7… FYI… You can find more with the search feature.

Jackie


Just to illustrate higher dosing is effective… A recently published study indicates 180 mcg (called low dose) of MK7 helps build bone in post menopausal women…and increased Vitamin K status.

Note this is how they evaluated vitamin K status:
Circulating uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) and carboxylated OC (cOC) were measured; the ucOC/cOC ratio served as marker of vitamin K status.

"Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women," Knapen MH, Drummen NE, et al, Osteoporos Int, 2013 March 23; (Address: VitaK, Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 70, 6229 EV, Maastricht, The Netherlands).

In a placebo-controlled study involving 244 healthy, postmenopausal women, supplementation with vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7, MK-7, 180 microg/d) for a period of 3 years was found to be associated with significant improvements in vitamin K status, as well as decreases in the age-related declines in BMC and bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (and not the total hip), and significant decreases in the loss of vertebral height of the lower thoracic region at the mid-site of the vertebrae. These results suggest that supplementation with MK-7 was help reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
================

Just to illustrate higher dosing is effective… A recently published study indicates 180 mcg (called low dose) of MK7 helps build bone in post menopausal women…and increased Vitamin K status.

Note this is how they evaluated vitamin K status:
Circulating uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) and carboxylated OC (cOC) were measured; the ucOC/cOC ratio served as marker of vitamin K status.

"Three-year low-dose menaquinone-7 supplementation helps decrease bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women," Knapen MH, Drummen NE, et al, Osteoporos Int, 2013 March 23; (Address: VitaK, Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 70, 6229 EV, Maastricht, The Netherlands).

In a placebo-controlled study involving 244 healthy, postmenopausal women, supplementation with vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7, MK-7, 180 microg/d) for a period of 3 years was found to be associated with significant improvements in vitamin K status, as well as decreases in the age-related declines in BMC and bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (and not the total hip), and significant decreases in the loss of vertebral height of the lower thoracic region at the mid-site of the vertebrae. These results suggest that supplementation with MK-7 was help reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

=============

This is good timing. I was listening to Naturopathic Physician, Michael Murray, who hosted his online Natural Health Summit this week and one speaker talked about "The Surprising Secret to Stronger Bones and a Healthier Heart" which was on Vitamin K2. Speaker: Kate Rheaume-Bleue, ND - Authority on vitamin K2 and author of the best-selling book Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life. These are my notes… useful for us here in this thread and definitely for overall arterial and heart health.

As we know, the risks of soft tissue calcifications from circulating calcium (as in arteries and aorta )… esp. when taking Vitamin D.. which is why we use the K2 MK7 to help direct that calcium into bones where it belongs and keep it out of soft tissue. To answer the Xalerto question, “Dr. Kate” said, the only anticoagulant that would be a concern is warfarin since that functions through vitamin K pathways…and to use K2 MK7 with warfarin would not work because you’d have to adjust downward and wouldn’t get the benefits of vitamin K. Safe to use with all the new anticoags and also aspirin.

(Long ago, I have posted about people who were taking warfarin on a permanent basis and the long-term effects of severe aortic calcifications and osteoporosis. Now that the new anticoags are available, that should solve the problem.)
Dr. Kate said the more Vit. D you take, the more MK7 you need to take as well. Says a low dose (what I use now) is the 200 mcg and it can be safely doubled to 500 mcg and often more… except higher may cause stomach upset for some.

She emphasizes it’s smart to have the vitamin D test so you know how aggressive to be. You can get that through Life Extension yourself or through your doctor.

Her points:
• Vitamin K2 deficiency is wide spread
• K2 MK7 is very safe and is without toxic reactions – has a high safety profile
• If you have arterial or aortic calcifications its extremely important to take at higher doses, as it reverses the calcifications….min. would be the 500 mcg.
• As we age, most people have some evidence of arterial calcifications.
• MK7 not only directs circulating serum calcium into bones where it belongs, it is also important for activating the production of collagen in the Protein Matrix which is important for bone flexibility.. Bones need to be strong (ie calcium) , but also flexible so if you fall – they don’t break as readily as if they are brittle.
• Eventually we will have K2 testing just as we have Vitamin D testing now. It’s very important and long overdue.
• Dosing: Bare minimum is 180 – 200 mcg/day.
• Prevent and reverse arterial calcifications – minimum of 500 mcg/day

Bottom line… increasing MK7 will get faster decalcification results and help prevent extra calcium buildup from Vitamin D supplementation…and overall improve heart health significantly. The K2 deficiency is not gender specific; can happen in both women and men…as does osteoporosis and arterial calcifications.

Jackie

Jackie:

There have been many articles on the benefits of Vit. D on this site, other sites and my own doctor. Yet I don't recall reading that if you take Vit. D you should also take vit. K it is very necessary to take the two together. My doctor (Brownstein) didn't rely that to me, I asked him for a Vit K. supplement and he said he hasn't found a good one. So, this is very confusing, I took Vit k2-7 for quite a while then when my Doc said this, I quit taking it. I have done more reading and started taking it again, now you have posted that when one takes Vit D they also should take vit. K.

Collagen supplements are the newer answer to bones, skin maybe heart health, I am taking those supplements now, I seem to tolerate them quite well. Vit. D would give me aura Migraines so I don't take it, in the summer I get my Vit. D from the sun, I am outside everyday.

Liz

Can I follow up with a question about the 100 ng/ml mark and Vitamin D doses?
Shannon mentions the "sweet spot of 70-75ng/ml" for Vitamin D, in this post by Jackie.
Vitamin D Improves Ejection Fraction in Heart Failure Patients [www.afibbers.org]
I`ve also seen higher than 100 ng/ml mentioned as "toxic".
My results for Vit D have been:
Sept 2016 = 16.0 ng/ml (no supplementing)
and after taking Vit D 5,000 IU and Super K2 (Life Extensions) every day:
Nov 2016 = 46,6 ng/ml
Feb 2017 = 100,0
I assume I should titrate down as Shannon suggests in Jackie's post mentioned above,
but
Can I stop the Vit D 5,000 IU and continue the K2?
and since all I have at hand are the 5,000 IU softgels, can I take that every other day or space it out even more?
Any ideas of how to calculate, if possible, how often to take the 5,000 IU? I don't have immediate access to any other Vit D3.
As always, many many thanks,
ginny

Liz and Ginny I’ll try to respond to you both …. If you need more clarification, please let me know.
Glad to try to help.

We definitely have continually emphasized the importance of using both Vitamin D3 as well as Vitamin K2 in the MK7 form.

Regardless of whether or not you take vitamin D, the K2 MK7 is an important supplement as it helps remove calcium from soft tissue deposits… I’ve elaborated more later on about this.

Ginny – you can certainly adjust your Vitamin D dosing downward and then after 3 – 4 months, have another test to see if you maintain an adequate level. When I experimented and lowered my dosing significantly, my test levels dropped dramatically… so I need 5,000 IU daily. In summer, if I am out in the sun more, then I may take a dose every other day for a while.

Jackie



This is the range recommendations often referenced by functional practitioners ….

Deficient - less than 50 ng/ml
Optimal - 50 to 70 ng/ml
Treat cancer and heart disease 70 - 100 ng/ml
Excess - over 100 ng/ml

Note that some practitioners are recommending the 100 ng/ml as okay to take. My FM MD prefers that patients be in the 60 – 70 range, but I feel better when mine is closer to 70 so that’s where I try to maintain it. Other doctors feel comfortable with the 100 level as an optimal dose.

I’m not using the Vitamin D specifically for bone health but that can be a side benefit. My bone density has always been very good and fortunately, in my senior years, it’s remained that way. For bone health support, I’m very pleased with the product, ZyCal® which is a bone morphogenic protein complex that supports both bone and cartilage. I use small maintenance doses just as insurance.

However, I do take Vitamin K2 MK7 – 200 micrograms daily based on the information I learned so many years ago on the importance of preventing circulating calcium from depositing in arteries or other tissues….and it actually helps remove calcium deposits in soft tissues that have already started if the MK 7 dosing is high enough and some of the more recent reports are indicating even higher doses of MK7.

The reason I found such benefit with higher vitamin D dosages… is that my initial test level was 18 and I had severe symptoms of muscle pain… diagnosed as fibromyalgia. But, once the Vit. D levels reached 50…I began to notice pain relief and, eventually, I found that I was pain free of muscle aches and pain around the 70 level… that’s where I try to maintain. I take 5,000 IU daily until late September and then I increase to 10,000 IU daily until the end of April for immune system support and this has allowed me to be free of colds for 17 years and flu, for 18 years. I do not get flu shots. If I should happen to also get some extra bone health benefit, then that’s fine too.

As an afibber, when I began taking nattokinase as a natural blood thinner it was because I was not compatible with warfarin and back then, that’s all there was. It was also back then that I was in contact with the nattokinase expert here in the US, Ralph Holsworth, D. O. and he told me about the work that University of Maastricht (Netherlands) was doing with menaquinone 7 for collaborative efforts in treating his patients here in the US.

Following are a few of those previous posts and several other links for more information on this topic:

Re: Is 120 mcg of K2 MK7 too much for an afibber?
December 30, 2012

Nancy - the current thinking is that doses of the K2 MK7 can be in the 200 mcg range.

Reliable information from the expert researchers on vitamin K2 are Leon Schurgers and Cees Vermeer, both PhD's at the University of Maastricht, who are recognized as the leaders in the vitamin K field. You can go to the MenaQ7 website and click on the research links for reliable information based on their scientific research. If you can locate the video clip of Dr. Schurgers MK7 presentation, it's worth spending the time to watch it.
[menaq7.com]

The other forms of vitamin K including the K1 and K2 MK4, have short half-lifes and function slightly differently than the K2. The idea behind the MK7 when taking vitamin D3 is to be sure that if serum calcium levels become elevated, then the MK7 directs calcium into the bone cells where it belongs and not in soft tissues like arteries or as bone spurs. The vitamin D3 at 1000 IU is a very small dose which is highly unlikely to cause elevated calcium.... but still, periodically, it's wise to have the serum calcium tested along with the 25 OHD just to be sure.

For those on warfarin and because warfarin tends to cause calcium deposition in arteries and aorta, it's advised that these patients work with a doctor who can supervise the dosing and test accordingly. These people, especially, definitely benefit from K2 MK7 whether or not they are also taking vitamin D3.

Jackie


Jackie [ PM ]
Re: Vitamin K2 as MK-7
May 28, 2012
Lou - Just to add info on the K2 MK7 topic so it's all in one thread, this info should be of interest to you and others who are concerned over the arterial calcification issue... especially when using warfarin for longer periods or continually. Note the potential for therapeutic doses which are much higher than we are talking here used concomitantly with warfarin.

Best to you,
Jackie

Vitamin K expert, Dr. Schurgers comments in an interview:

Schurgers: I am currently preparing and planning three big clinical trials with medical doctors: one trial in aortic stenosis patients (cardiology department), one in dialysis patients (a multicenter trial including some 500 patients) and one trial in cardiac patients with calcifications and hypertension. All trials will be conducted with 360 mcg of MK-7.

Source
March 2009
Vitamin K2 Puts Calcium in Bones and Removes Calcium From Arteries.
Part 2: A look at the data: An interview with Dr. Leon Schurgers
By Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D.
[www.drpasswater.com]

Part 1
[www.drpasswater.com]


Re: Success with Vit K2 for stabilising INR
November 13, 2011 06:17AM

Hi Lou - your question didn't sound dumb at all... this is confusing... but for anyone taking warfarin...especially long-term, it's critically important to take the K2 MK7 version as we don't need to add more worries over arterial calcifications or osteoporosis.

Jackie

Here's info from a very old post from quite a while back:

K2 A SIMPLE WAY TO IMPROVE BONE AND VASCULAR HEALTH
by Ralph E. Holsworth, Jr, D.O.

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin K exists in two natural forms, K1 and K2. All K vitamins are fat-soluble micronutrients. Vitamin K2 enables an enzyme (carboxylase) to change an amino acid (Gla) into specific proteins (osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein). These specialized Gla-proteins produced in the bone (cartilage) and blood vessels bind calcium and direct the occurrence of calcium throughout the body. Therefore, Vitamin K2 (a.k.a., menaquinone-7) via these Gla-proteins regulates mineralization of bone and prevents calcification of blood vessels. In 1929, Danish scientist, Dr. Henrik Dam discovered Vitamin K. The Danish meaning literally means "Koagulation" vitamins essential for proper blood clotting. In 1984, scientists reproted patients with osteoporotic fractures had circulating Vitamin K levels which were 70% lower than age- and sex-matched control group (1)in bone and the decreased incidence of bone fractures in elderly patients. In the Rotterdam study, clinical analysis of 4,500 patients showed a correlation between long-term Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) intake and the lower incidence of aortic calcification (2).

In contrast to Vitamin K1, Vitamin K2 does not concentrate in the liver. Vitamin K2 works primarily outside of the liver (extrahepatic) in the bone and blood vessels. The richest natural source of Vitamin K2 is derived from a Japanese folk medicinal food called Natto.

HISTORY
According to legend, the first person to originate traditional Japanese natto was the famous warrior Yoshiie Minamoto during the Heian era of Japanese history (794-1192 A.D.). The horse was an extremely important to the Japanese samurai warrior of the period and great care was given to provide suitable provisions for the horses when armies were on the move. Typically, boiled soybeans were cooled down, dried in the sun and packed immediately in rice straw bags for transport with the army. If the army was on a rapid deployment, the boiled soybeans were packed hastily into the rice straw bags without cooling or drying. The rice straw just happened to contain a harmless and naturally-occurring microorganism, Bacillus subtilis natto that fermented the soybeans and produced natto with its characteristic sticky texture.

Initially, the soybeans were presumed to have spoiled until Yoshiie Minamoto observed that his horses were "picky eaters" and demonstrated a preference for the "spoiled" soybeans or natto. One day, Minamoto demonstrated tremendous courage and dipped his finger into the seemingly "rotten goo". To his astonishment, the fermented soybeans were not only edible but had a distinct Umami flavor. Minamoto was responsible for introducing natto to the northwestern Japan where he ruled. To this day, natto is especially popular in that region of Japan and a folk remedy for fatigue, beriberi, dysentery, heart and vascular diseases.

VITAMIN K AND BONE HEALTH
Low Vitamin K Intake As A Risk Factor for Osteoporosis
In 1984, scientists reported patients with osteoporotic fractures had circulating Vitamin K levels which were 70% lower than an age- and sex-matched control group (1). These data were later confirmed showing that low blood level of vitamin K is also associated with loss bone mineral density, which independently is a risk factor for fracture (10-12). The beneficial effect of Vitamin K2 is related to the carboxylation of matrix-Gla Protein (MGP). Similar to another protein called osteoclacin that determines the mineralization and placement of calcium into bone. Studies show that Vitamin K1 is not as effective as Vitamin K2 for the prevention of bone loss. It was shown in the rat model vitamin K2 prevented calcification, whereas vitamin K1 had little effect (5).

Vitamin K2 supplementation is one way of insuring that arteries and bones receive sufficient amounts of Vitamin K2 to prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, respectively.

VITAMIN K AND VASCULAR HEALTH
Low Vitamin K Intake as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
In the Rotterdam study, clinical analysis of 4,500 patients showed a correlation between long-term Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) intake and the lower incidence of aortic calcification (2). For vitamin K1 the observed associations were weaker, which is consistent from Schurgers et al., suggesting preferential uptake of K2 by the blood vessel wall. The beneficial effect of Vitamin K2 is related to the carboxylation of matrix-Gla Protein (MGP).

Arteries without atherosclerosis (plaque) have 20-50 fold increase in Vitamin K2 concentration than arteries with plaque in the same human body (8). Arteries were found to be more flexible and elastic than other arteries without Vitamin K2.

Arteries without atherosclerosis (plaque) have 20-50 fold increase in Vitamin K2 concentration than arteries with plaque in the same human body (8). Arteries were found to be more flexible and elastic than other arteries without Vitamin K2. Arteries in children are very flexible and stretch with sporadic increases in blood pressures but return to their initial form after the stress. This ability of the artery to stretch and "bounce back into shape" is called compliance. As we age, arteries begin to resemble the mineral deposits in old water pipes, becoming stiff and hard. Increased blood pressure as we grow older may reflect the lowering of compliance of our blood vessels. Our vessels thicken with calcium and other oxidized fats gradually narrowing the channels and restricting blood flow. The increased pressure on the narrowing patency, creates a "back pressure" which increases our blood pressure and the work of the heart. Eventually, the heart tires on the increased work and begins to fail. This failure is called "congestive heart failure."

Vitamin K2 supplementation is one way of insuring that arteries and bones receive sufficient amounts of Vitamin K2 to prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, respectively.

KEY POINTS
• ABSORPTION - You only get what you absorb and with only a 10% absorption of Vitamin K1 from vegetables, you are receiving "pennies on the dollars."

• PREVENTION OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS - Vitamin K2 suppresses the progress of atherosclerotic plaques, intima thickening and pulmonary atherosclerosis (3). Populations that consume higher levels of vitamin K2 have fewer cardiovascular related health issues, and research comparing healthy artery walls to artery walls with high calcification have 20-30 times higher vitamin K2 concentrations (4).

• PREVENTION OF BONE LOSS/FRACTURES - Studies show that Vitamin K1 is not as effective as Vitamin K2 for the prevention of bone loss. It was shown in the rat model vitamin K2 prevented calcification, whereas vitamin K1 had little effect (5).

SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Benefits for bone and vascular health are in the order of 100 micrograms per day of supplemental Vitamin K2 (8).

TO PREVENT POTENTIAL INTERFERENCE WITH ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS, SUPPLEMENTAL OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) VITAMIN K SUPPLEMENTS (either K1 or K2) SHOULD NOT EXCEED A DAILY DOSE OF 100 MICROGRAMS PER DAY (8).

REFERENCES
1. J. P. Hart, A. Catterall , R.A. Dodds, L. Klenerman, M.J. Shearer, L. Bitensky, J. Chayen; Lancet 283 (1984).
2. J.M. Geleijnse, C. Vermeer, L.J. Schurgeers, D.E. Grobbe, H.A.P. Pols, J.C.M. Witterman;Thromb. Haemostas. (Suppl July) P 473, 2001.
3. Kawashima H., et. al., Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 75 135-143 (1997).
4. Vermeer, C., Schurgeers, L.J., VitaK and Cardiovascular Research Institute CARIM), University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
5. H.M.H. Spronk, et. al., J.Vasc. Resear., in press.
6. Sumi, H., Accumulation of Vitamin K (menaquinone-7) in Plasma after Ingestion of Natto and Natto Bacilli (B. subtilis natto).
7. Lavienja A.J.L.M. Braam, Arnold P.G. Hoeks, Fred Brouns, Karly Hamulyak, Monique J.W. Gerichhausen, Cees Vermeer, Beneficial effects of vitamins D and K on the elastic properties of the vessel wall in post-menopausal women: A Follow-up Study.
8. Cees Vermeer, Lavienja Braam, Vitamin K supplementation: A simple way to bone and cardiovascular health, AgroFOOD industry hi-tech, Nov/Dec 2003, 17-20.
9. Certificate of analysis of Vitamin K2 powder (menaquinone-7).
10. J. P. Hart, A. Catterall , R.A. Dodds, L. Klenerman, M.J. Shearer, L. Bitensky, J. Chayen, J. Reeve, P.N. Sambrook; J.Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 60 1268-1269 (1985).
(published on www.gordonresearch.com)

Vitamin K may reverse arterial calcification - study
By Stephen Daniells

03/04/2007 - Arterial calcification, a process of hardening of the arteries, may be inhibited and even reversed with supplementation with high-dose vitamin K, suggests an animal study.

Atherosclerosis,, known as hardening or furring of the arteries is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the cause of over 50 per cent of deaths in Europe and the US and estimated to cost the economy ...

"Given that arterial calcifications are predictive of cardiovascular events, regression of arterial calcification may help reduce to reduce the risk of death in people with chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease," wrote lead author Leon Schurgers from VitaK at Maastricht University.

There are two main forms of vitamin K: phylloquinone, also known as phytonadione, (vitamin K1) which is found in green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and spinach, and makes up about 90 per cent of the vitamin K in a typical Western diet; and menaquinones (vitamins K2), which make up about 10 per cent of Western vitamin K consumption and can be synthesised in the gut by microflora.

Menaquinones (MK-n: with the n determined by the number of prenyl side chains) can also be found in the diet; MK-4 can be found in animal meat, MK-7, MK-8, and MK-9 are found in fermented food products like cheese, and natto is a rich source of MK-7.

MK-4 is distinct from other MKs because it is not a major constituent of the spectrum of MKs produced by gut microflora, but can be derived from K1 in vivo.

A synthetic form of vitamin K, known as K3, does exist but is not recommended for human consumption.

Writing in the current issue of the journal Blood, Schurgers and co-workers report the findings of their experiments using 10-week old male Wistar Kyoto rats. The animals were fed a diet containing the blood thinner warfarin (3 mg/g food) and low-dose vitamin K1 (1.5 mg/g food) to induce calcium build-up in the blood vessels for six weeks.

Warfarin is known to promote calcium accumulations in the arteries by inactivating a protein called matrix Gla protein (MGP), a regulator of calcium crystal formation in the circulatory system. MGP is a vitamin K-dependent protein - meaning vitamin K is required to activate this important protein

Subsequently, the animals were divided into four groups, the first to continue the warfarin plus K1 diet, while the other three stopped warfarin intake. These three warfarin-free groups consumed the control diet supplemented with normal dose K1 (0.5 micrograms/g food), high-dose K1 (100 micrograms/g food) or vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-4 (100 micrograms/g food) for another six weeks.

The researchers report that, during the initial six-weeks of warfarin plus K1 supplementation, all animals showed a significant increase in their arterial calcium levels, and this was found to continue for the normal dose K1 group after warfarin administration had stopped.

"In contrast," the researcher state "high-vitamin K intake (both K1 and K2) not only blocked the progress of further calcium accumulation but also lead to a greater than 37 per cent reduction of previously accumulated arterial calcium precipitates within six weeks."

Moreover, MGP was found to be present as the inactive form in the normal dose K1 group, while significant levels of the active from were observed for both high-dose K1 and K2 supplemented groups.

"In this study, we provide evidence that warfarin-induced medial vascular calcification in rats is preventable or even reversible by high vitamin K intake, with a putative role for the vitamin K-dependent protein MGP," stated the researchers.

"Although it is well known that MGP is important in the prevention of calcification, its contribution to regression of arterial calcification is a novel finding."

Schurgers stated that the effects of increased vitamin K intake needed to be investigated in humans.

"Our study shows that in an animal model vitamin K can actually regress preformed calcifications. The health implications for humans are significant, and we have previously published research showing that the highest vitamin K2 intake from dietary sources has been linked to significant reductions in vascular calcification compared to those with the lowest K2 intake," he said.

Source: Blood
1 April 2007, Volume 109, Number 7, Pages 2823-2831
"Regression of warfarin-induced medial elastocalcinosis by high intake of vitamin K in rats"
Authors: L.J. Schurgers, H.M.H. Spronk, B.A.M. Soute, P.M. Schiffers, J.G.R. DeMey, C. Vermeer


April 01, 2009
Bill - click here and scroll to page 37 where the K2 updated information begins.

[www.afibbers.org] and note these two studies as well... indicating that K2 (MK7) can actually benefit those on warfarin 1) to help reduce the incidence of blood vessel calcifications and osteoporosis and 2) help regulate the dosing of warfarin more efficiently.

"Regression of warfarin-induced medial elastocalcinosis by high intake of vitamin K in rats"10.1182/blood-2006-07-
035345
[bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org]
Vitamin K may reverse arterial calcification
Article by Stephen Daniels 3/04/07
[www.nutraingredients-usa.com]

I'd continue taking the K2. You may have to tinker a bit with the warfarin dosage. It's not the same as K1 from food.

Jackie

Re: Aortic calcification
September 04, 2008 02:23AM
John - there is a good deal of information regarding the use of vitamin K2 (MK7) and removal of calcium from soft tissue structures like arteries as well as using it as a preventive measure. There is a bit discussed in CR #40 – go here: [www.afibbers.org] and scroll to page 36 and start with the December 2007 update. Follow the many really good references for more detail.

Here’s another of many articles on this topic. If you decide to pursue this, you can email me and I can help get you started. I’d think now would be the perfect time to begin taking the MK7 form of vitamin K2. I've been using Dr. Holsworth's MK7 for several years just as preventive maintenance.

Jackie

VITAMIN K2 CONTROLS REMOVAL OF CALCIUM FROM ARTERIES...

By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.
June 5, 2007
NewsWithViews.com

...and Deposition of Calcium into Bones

Detecting calcium deposits in arteries by computer tomography scanning studies has become a valuable clue that an individual has arteriosclerotic heart disease and has significant risk for heart attack and sudden death. Detected calcium arterial deposits thus permit life style changes to be instituted before sudden death or acute myocardial infarction has occurred. This increased risk of calcium deposition into arteries has recently been confirmed to bring increased risk of heart attack and heart disease deaths to blacks, Hispanics and Chinese[1] even though their risks are less than Caucasians.

Western cultures (Europe, Canada, USA,) eat a high protein, high dairy, high phosphorus acidifying diet. This type food causes large amounts of calcium to be wasted in the urine as it is removed from bone tissue to try to preserve an alkaline cellular environment in the face of a very acidic dietary protein intake. To make matters even worse the ratio of calcium to magnesium in milk is 9 to 1 which exaggerates the lack of magnesium found in food grown on magnesium depleted U.S. soil. Low magnesium stores in bone cells prevents magnesium from being of any value in attempts to preserve an alkaline body pH. Naturally the Western diet leads to profound loss of calcium and magnesium from bone thus ensuring osteoporosis and fractured bones in the elderly. The nation of Thailand which eats almost no dairy products and obtains calcium primarily from vegetables has much less osteoporosis than western nations on their high protein high dairy product diets.

Calcification in cellular tissues is a sign of tissue damage, cellular aging and impending cell death. When cells are unable to regulate calcium and keep the calcium content of cells down cellular function degenerates. Calcified arteries, calcium in soft tissues and high levels of calcium within cells are all signs of aging. At age 80 the average calcium content in the aorta is 140 times greater[2] than the levels of aortic calcification noted at age 40. This may relate to a long period of unrecognized Vitamin K2 deficiency.

Vitamin K1 is found in plants and Vitamin K2 is found in animals and bacteria(healthy colon bacteria, Japanese natto, low fat Dutch gouda and edam cheese). Bacteria in the colon are able to produce and store about one month of Vitamin K. Antibiotics kill many of these good intestinal bacteria thus impairing production of Vitamin K. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have similar adverse effects on these valuable bacteria. Vitamin K absorption is improved by dietary fat which stimulates bile secretion.
Studies have shown that subclinical Vitamin K deficiency[3] [4], is present in most healthy adults. The first symptoms of this deficiency can be heart attack or a fractured osteoporotic bone. In the Framingham study subjects in the highest quartile for Vitamin K intake had a significantly lower risk of[5] hip fracture.

In 1984 scientists reported that patients with osteoporotic fractures had circulating Vitamin K1 levels that were 70%[6] lower than age and sex matched controls. These findings were confirmed and it was noted that low levels of Vitamin K were associated with loss of bone mineral density creating an independent risk factor for bone fracture. Further studies have disclosed that Vitamin K1 was less effective than Vitamin K2 in preventing bone loss.

The absorption of synthetic Vitamin K1 has recently been compared to the absorption of Vitamin K2(menaquinone-7) in healthy subjects. Vitamin K1 has been widely used in food supplements. Recently natural Vitamin K2 has become available for use in supplements. Both Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2 were well absorbed with peak blood levels reached at 4 hours. Unlike Vitamin K1, Vitamin K2 was found to have a very long half life which results in stable blood levels. During prolonged intake the long half life permits accumulation Of K2 to levels 7-8 fold higher than that seen after one dose. Vitamin K2(MK-7) is 6 times more potent than Vitamin K1.

Use Of Vitamin K2(Menaquinone-7) To Prevent Calcium Plaques From Appearing In Arteries
The commonly used anticoagulant drug coumadin interferes with the metabolism and function of Vitamin K by inhibiting the enzymes needed to produce Vitamin K This drug can produce excessive bleeding and does produce progressive widespread calcification of arteries and the aorta.
A clinical study from Rotterdam, Holland revealed a correlation between long term adequate Vitamin K2 intake and a lower incidence of calcification of the wall of the aorta. Arteries with no plaques have a 20 to 50 fold increase in Vitamin K2 concentration when compared to arteries with arterial plaques. The high K2(menaquinone-7) content arteries were noted to be more flexible[7] and elastic than arteries lacking K2.

Lack of Vitamin K2 causes calcium to fail to be deposited in bones where it belongs and to be deposited instead in arteries, aorta, soft tissues including muscle, breast, kidneys and in heel spurs.

A protein called osteocalcin transports calcium to bone. Vitamin K2(menaquinone-7) is used to solidify this calcium into the bone matrix. When Vitamin K2 is lacking the calcium remains in the blood and ends up getting deposited in the walls of arteries and other sites which is very undesirable. Thus Vitamin K2 becomes a critical nutrient for both bone and arteries.

Dr. Leon Schurgers and Dr. Cees Vermeer of Maastricht University in Holland studied 4800 elderly Dutch men and women to ascertain whether Vitamin K2 could help prevent artery calcium deposits. They learned that persons with the highest dietary intake of K2 (primarily originating in low fat Dutch cheeses Gouda and Edam) had the least evidence of calcification of the aorta[8] when compared to persons with low Vitamin K2 intakes. The higher the intake of these cheeses the lower the mortality from cardiovascular disease.

The fermented soy Japanese food natto contains Vitamin K2 in large amounts but Americans are likely to find it’s taste and smell objectionable unless it is covered by sauces. All of the Vitamin K2 produced in making the enzyme nattokinase has now become available to be sold for use in food supplements.

The drug coumadin is widely used by conventional medicine in cardiovascular disease to prevent clotting. Numerous natural health experts have been concerned for years that coumadin was not effective in preventing vascular deaths but also has problems with occasional serious internal bleeding episodes. German researchers[9] found out in 2005 that long term use of coumadin produced increased calcium in the aortic valve and coronary arteries when compared to patients not taking coumadin. Dr. Gary Gordon states that “every patient on coumadin is increasing the calcium[10] content of all vascular tissues. The calcium content of arteries is now proven to be more dangerous than diabetes, elevated cholesterol or hypertension, we must now try to educate patients.” Patients taking coumadin can be easily moved to safer anticoagulant therapy.

This information proves that Vitamin K2 is a critical nutrient for patients with arteriosclerosis as it has the potential to prevent and remove calcium from arteriosclerotic plaques thus making plaques easier to dissolve and less dangerous..

Vitamin K2 is now available as Synergy K. One capsule of Synergy K contains 45 mcg of Vitamin K2(Menaquinone-7) and 1 mg of (Menaquinone-4 less well absorbed than K2). Natural Health Team 1-800-416-2806 can supply Synergy K. The dose should be one capsule daily (45 mcg.).

How To Safely Stop Coumadin Therapy

Persons taking coumadin therapy who have become alerted to the danger of this therapy can be easily withdrawn from this drug. Since coumadin is clearly inadequate to fully protect against clotting disorders, causes bleeding problems and accelerates arteriosclerosis many persons will choose to take other therapies. There are several safe natural substances that have value in replacing coumadin.

•Enzymes High doses of enzymes(nattokinase, lumbrokinase(boluoke), vitalzyme, wobenzyme N) stop the initiating process in clot formation (fibrin formation).

•Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids Fish oils (Artic Omega) are valuable therapies because they make blood more fluid thus inhibiting the formation of clots

•Gingko Biloba taken twice daily also prevents clotting in a safe manner.

•Vitamin K2 All persons who have taken coumadin therapy would be wise to consider taking Vitamin K2 therapy which will mobilize the calcium out of the arteries and aorta and begin to restore normal flexibility and elasticity to these vessels. This also will restore density to bones which prevents and heals osteoporosis.

Dr. Robert. Jay Rowen relates that using EDD, nattokinase or lumbrokinase(one twice daily), gingko, and Unique E(1200IU) to treat several hundred patients with thrombophlebitis has never been complicated by pulmonary embolism.[11]

Dr. Gary Gordon has frequently stated that patients following his recommendations for healing arteriosclerosis with wobenzyme or boluoke(lumbrokinase), which appears to be the most effective enzyme as it resembles the effects of very expensive Tissue Plasminogen Activator, and high doses of Essential Daily Defense do not develop heart attack or strokes..

Osteoporosis
High doses of Vitamin K2(45 mcg to 90 mcg. daily) were used to successfully to treat osteoporosis[12] in Japan. These doses are 1000 times the RDA dosage. No side effects were seen. This therapy for osteoporosis should work well and using Synergy K is simpler than other therapies for osteoporosis. The addition of Vitamin D-3, calcium, magnesium, boron, strontium and silica(horsetail) will supply additional key nutrients needed to construct bone.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Approximately 25 percent of individuals appear to have genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s Disease as they carry the E4 form of the lipoprotein apoE. These persons all have low levels of Vitamin K. Calcification of arteries to the brain is felt to be a component of Alzheimer’s Disease. Lack of the antioxidant benefits of K2 and exaggerated brain arterial calcification from lack of K2 might be contributing factors leading to Alzheimer’s Disease. Therapy with Vitamin K2 might turn out to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease or slow it’s progression.

Diabetes
The second highest concentration of Vitamin K in the human body is found in the pancreas. Japanese researchers have learned that inducing Vitamin K deficiency in animals produces Type II diabetes. This raises the possibility that taking Vitamin K2 therapy may improve blood sugar control in known diabetics as well as possibly preventing the development of diabetes in other persons.

Anti-oxidant Properties of Vitamin K
Vitamin K has anti-oxidant properties comparable to CoQ 10 and Vitamin E. This provides another good reason to consider taking Vitamin K2.

Preventing Liver Cancer(Hepatoma) With Vitamin K2 Therapy
Japanese researchers used this same dosage of Vitamin K2(45 mcg) to safely prevent women with viral hepatitis from developing liver cancer[13] (hepatoma). The use of Vitamin K2 reduced the incidence of hepatoma to 20% of that appearing in a control group of patients with viral hepatitis who were not taking Vitamin K2.

Metastatic Calcification
When the supply of Vitamin K2(menaquinone-7 is lacking in the body calcium deposits in arteries, aorta, muscle tissue, breast tissue and tendon sheaths causing bone spurs instead of in the bones where it belongs. This process of deposition of calcium in abnormal sites is known as metastatic calcification. Sites where these deposits may occur include muscles, breasts, kidneys and heel tendons. Provision of ample supplies of Vitamin K2 from one capsule of Synergy K should reverse this process by removing the deposits of abnormal calcium from soft tissues and placing them in bone where they belong.

Patients with advanced uremia often have disordered calcium metabolism with extensive deposits of calcium in soft tissues. This recent information about Vitamin K2 suggests that 45 to 90 mcg. of Vitamin K2 might be helpful in reversing these large areas of calcification seen in some uremics. Knowing that uremic patients have often been eating poorly for long periods of time might convert a person with undiagnosed Vitamin K deficiency eating a protein restricted diet into a patient who has very extensive calcium deposition..

Painful Calcaneal (heel) Spurs
Heel spurs are a common clinical problem which has no satisfactory therapy. Surgical procedures do not solve the problem probably because they are unable to resolve Vitamin K2 deficiency. Injections of Xylocaine like drugs and cortisone compounds into the painful bone deposits also fail to prove rewarding. Also non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(Motrin, Clinoril, etc.) can produce gastric irritation, internal bleeding and intestinal dysbiosis by killing healthy intestinal bacteria without resolving Vitamin K2 lack. Restoration of Vitamin K2 stores could lead to resolution of heel spurs.

Calcium Deposits in Breasts
Non traumatic calcifications in breast tissue cause lots of mental anguish because of fear of cancer. Some of these depositions, possibly all, may be due to lack of Vitamin K2. Therefore several months of Synergy K could prove worthwhile if the deposits start to resolve.

Summary
Most healthy adults in the USA have undiagnosed Vitamin K deficiency. This has important health ramifications as it is a prime contributing cause for arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis with vertebral and other fractures(hip.wrist). The recent availability of Vitamin K2 as a food supplement can produce important health benefits. This nutrient can heal osteoporosis in a simple safe manner. This should result in many fewer hip, vertebral and wrist fractures.

Regular intake of Vitamin K2 from supplements, natto, Edam and Gouda cheeses should prevent the development of arteriosclerotic plaques and thus be able to prevent disability and deaths from arteriosclerosis. Taking a slice of these cheeses daily is a pleasant good health habit.
Use of Vitamin K2 now permits reversal of calcifications in arteries and the aorta which should lead to significant drops in cardiovascular mortality if intake of Vitamin K2 becomes adopted by many citizens.

Other possible valuable uses for Vitamin K2 include decreasing the incidence of hepatoma following viral hepatitis, resolution of abnormal calcification(heel spurs, breast and kidney deposits), improving blood sugar control in diabetics and prevention of diabetes and possible protection against Alzheimer’s Disease.

Footnotes:
1, Bild, Diane M.D. M.P.H. et al Multi-Ethnic Study of Arteriosclerosis Mar. 26, 2007 Annual Scientific Session of American College of Cardiology Mar 26, 2007 New Orleans
2, What you need to know about Aging Blood Vessels and Calcium April 13, 2007 pg 1
3, Knapen, MH, et al Vitamin K induced changes in markers of osteoblastic activity and urinary calcium loss Calcif Tissue Int. 1993 Aug; 53(2):81-85
4, Booth SL, et al Assessment of Dietary phylloquinone intake and Vitamin K status in postmenopausal women. Eur J Clin Nut. 1995;49(11):832-841 5, Booth , SL, et al Dietary Vitamin K intakes are associated with hip fracture but not with bone mineral densityin elderly men and women Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 May; 71(5):1201-8
6, Hart, J.P. et al Lancet 283 (1984)
7, Cees Vermeer, Laviena Braam et al Vitamin K supplementation: A simple way to bone and cardiovascular health, AgroFOOD industry hi-tech, Nov/Dec 2003 17-20
8, Schurgers LJ et al Oral Anticoagulant treatment: friend or foe in cardiovascular disease? Blood.2004;104(10):3231-3232
9, Koos R et al Relation of oral anticoagulation to cardiac valvular and coronary calcium assessed by multiple spiral computer tomography. Amer J Cardiol.2005;96(6):747-749
10, Gordon, Gary 1/1.2007
11, Mar 26, 2007 Coumadin Alternative Responses pg 1
12, Iwamoto, J. et al Effect of menatetrenone(Vit. K2) on bone mineral density and vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a comparison with the effect of etidronate. J Orthop Sci. 2001;6(6):487-92
13, Habu, D. et al Role of Vitamin K2 in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in women with viral cirrhosis of the liver. JAMA, 2004 July 21;292(3):358-61

There are more posts.. just do an advanced search for the name Schurgers…

Also Conference Room Sessions 39 and 40 – contain references to MK7
[www.afibbers.org]
[www.afibbers.org]


And this explanatory post: [www.afibbers.org]

I am taking vit. K-2, MK-7, 100mcg., the reason I stopped for a while was because when I asked Dr. B. about getting the supplement, he said he hasn't found a good one, well that rather struck me, I thought well why should I take one.

Liz

H Jackie, I scanned your very thorough report on Vit D and didn't notice if it covered D's therapeutic relationship to MS. I apologize if it's in there and I missed it. Below is a link to a report on AOL today. Dennis




[www.aol.com]

Hi Dennis -

I have a reference to about 500 studies on vitamin D related to various health issues and I'm working on a report that lists some of them and the study titles just to point out the critical importance of testing for and increasing vitamin D levels to within the healthy range to help avoid many conditions that underlie lack of vitamin D.

Here's one for MS

Association of Vitamin D Levels With Multiple Sclerosis Activity and Progression in Patients Receiving Interferon Beta-1b.

Abstract Source:
JAMA Neurol. 2015 Oct 12:1-8. Epub 2015 Oct 12. PMID: 26458124

Abstract Author(s):
Kathryn C Fitzgerald, Kassandra L Munger, Karl Köchert, Barry G W Arnason, Giancarlo Comi, Stuart Cook, Douglas S Goodin, Massimo Filippi, Hans-Peter Hartung, Douglas R Jeffery, Paul O'Connor, Gustavo Suarez, Rupert Sandbrink, Ludwig Kappos, Christoph Pohl, Alberto Ascherio

Abstract:
Importance: Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as with increased disease activity and rate of progression in clinically isolated syndromes and early MS.

Exposures: Serum 25(OH)D measurements were performed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes included cumulative number of new active lesions (T2 lesions and gadolinium acetate-enhancing lesions), change in normalized brain volume, relapse rate, and progression determined by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Statistical analyses were adjusted for age, sex, randomized treatment, region, disease duration, and baseline EDSS score.

Conclusions and Relevance:
Among patients with MS treated with interferon beta-1b, higher 25(OH)D levels were associated with lower rates of MS activity observed on MRI. Results for brain atrophy and clinical progression were more equivocal.

Be well,
Jackie