Vitamin K2 and Osteoporosis

British Medical Journal have published in 2011 an astonish report that women who supplement with calcium to prevent osteoporosis are at a higher risk of atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack than those who didn’t take these supplements. Millions of people in North America are taking vitamin D and calcium supplements especially for women after their menopause to prevent osteoporosis.The calcium intake actually build up in arteries instead of the intend skeletal system. The increase risk of death from heart disease with these supplements have outweighed any benefit to bone health.

One in five women over the age of 50 have been diagnosed with osteoporosis while one in eight men over the age of 70 will develop osteoporosis.  There are no symptoms in early stages of the disease and usually the first sign is a bone fracture due to minor trauma or fall. Eventually, osteoporosis can rob your posture as much as six inches of height. Although osteoporosis is a major cause of disability and death in elderly of both sexes, calcium and vitamin D supplement still haven’t helped as much as the medical professionals or public would like to see. Vitamin K2 is the key to put calcium back to its intended destination, it is like a traffic director who direct the right traffic and where it should land (our bones).

The Danger of overdose

Since osteoporosis is characterized by lack of calcium, conventional wisdom would lead us to use calcium supplement intake beyond and above our normal dietary intake.Calcium supplements are so easy to access and they could even go up to 2,000 milligrams daily. Market hype would tell you the best absorbable forms of their calcium really work and penetrate to your skeletal system. Remember the food group you’ve learned in your first lesson of biology?  One of them is dairy group which contain a lot of nutrients and calcium and even vitamin D after they have added them. Yet, the rate of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerotic heart disease remains #1 in North America.  Atherosclerosis, in short is the hardening and narrowing of coronary arteries restricting the amount of blood flow back to the heart. This can cause angina(pain), shortness of breath and this narrowing of arteries can remain unnoticed for years until they became a symptom or onset of a heart attack which could be one last symptom too late to be recognized.

What about Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin responsible for increasing the absorption of calcium from the intestines. Unfortunately, it has not reduced the occurrence of heart attack or stroke but instead in might have compounded the accumulation of calcification around the arteries.  Vitamin D accelerate the effect of calcification in K2 deficiency conditions. This sunshine vitamin is a wonderful nutrient both in immune and heart health as long as Vitamin K2 is in the formula. So, take calcium, vitamin D3 and K2 together to get the maximum combine benefit which might just save your life.

You can order this supplement Vitamin D3 in professional quality by clicking HERE

How Vitamin K2 work under the scene

Vitamin K2 is responsible to activate a number of proteins that move calcium around the body. Osteocalcin is a biology protein found in bones and teeth. It is the most abundant protein in bone after the collagen that forms the matrix that holds calcium. Vitamin K2 activates Osteocalcin which attracts calcium into bones and teeth, where calcium is needed. On the other hand, K2 activates another protein called matrix gla protein (MGP), which remove calcium out of soft tissues like arteries and veins where minerals are not welcome. When we are deficient in K2, those proteins (osteocalcin and MGP) are not activated and calcium just deposit randomly in joints, tissues, arteries and form stones in kidney and gallbladder. When K2 is abundant, it will steer clear of unwanted calcium in arteries and soft tissues and the result – strong bones and flexible arteries.

Why do I need to take K2 supplements

K2 is not stored in the body in significant amounts. Small amounts can be found in salivary glands, pancreas, brain and sternum. They can be quickly depleted and unlike K1, vitamin K2 is not recycled. A K-deficient diet can lead to K2 deficiency in merely 7 days. Humans started domesticating animals between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago, also farmer are starting to grain fed animals instead of grass fed animals. Today, vast majority of North American poultry, eggs, meats and dairy are produced using confined, intensive farming technique and grain feeding. When human remove animals from the pasture, we basically removed vitamin K from our own diet!

K1 though is recyclable, also responsible for blood clotting. With the blood thinner drugs to prevent heart attack, K1’s recycle pathway have been impacted. Conditions associated with vitamin K deficiency included, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, increased risk of cancer, premature aging, diabetes, varicose veins, wrinkles, dental cavities, Crohn’s disease, kidney disease, narrow crowded dental arch.

Get K2 supplement Menaquinone-7( Natural) instead of K2 Menaquinone-4 (synthetic). MK7 will last a few days versus MK4 which last only a few hours.

You can order this supplement Vitamin K2(MK7)  in professional quality by clicking  HERE

This information is provided by © Copyright 2017 Genesis Health Inc. All rights reserved. This is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or nutritionist. Please consult your nutritionist for advice about a specific medical condition.

References:

Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox by Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue, BSc., ND

British Medical Journal 2011