Vitamin K1 may Protect Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia

Antaletriangle · 01-06-2009, 08:27 AM

http://www.naturalnews.com/025231.html

Osteopenia is a condition whereby there is loss of bone mass; it is not as severe as osteoporosis, but is generally accepted to lead to it. It is estimated that, in the United States, about 10 million people suffer from osteoporosis, while about 18 million have osteopenia. And a recent study conducted at the University of Toronto in Canada has found that vitamin K1 may protect postmenopausal women with osteopenia against bone fracture as well as cancer.

Details of Study

The study, which was randomized, controlled and led by Dr Angela Cheung, looked at a group of 440 postmenopausal women who suffered from osteopenia. The women were split into two groups – one group received 5 mg of vitamin K1 daily for a period of two years, while the other group received a placebo. In order to find out the effects of long-term consumption of vitamin K1, 260 of the women then continued their treatment for another two more years.

All in all, the study team reported that vitamin K1 supplementation was well tolerated by the subjects over the entire 4-year period, and no particular adverse health effects were associated with long-term vitamin K1 supplementation.

Findings of Study

Tests taken at the 2-year and 4-year marks of the study measured the bone mineral density of the women. Measurements were taken at the lower back and hip.

The study found that bone density had decreased at similar rates in both the vitamin K1 and control groups. This implied that vitamin K1 did not stem the loss of bone density which is generally related to advancement in age. However, what was significant was that the women who consumed vitamin K1 suffered fewer fractures than the other group. In the former group, there were only 9 fracture incidents, as compared with 20 in the latter group.

In addition, vitamin K1 seemed to offer a protective effect against cancer, too. In the vitamin K1 group, only 3 women got cancer, as opposed to 12 in the placebo group.
Discussion

The study team has urged caution on their findings with regard to cancer and fractures. This is because, firstly, their study is quite small and, also, it was not actually designed to look at the two conditions. In the long run, larger studies would definitely be needed and, until then, they do not recommend high dose vitamin K1 supplementation for preventing osteoporosis. It would thus also follow that cancer patients or those seeking to prevent the disease should not be rushing to load up on vitamin K1.

Having said that, however, vitamin K, which is a fat soluble vitamin, is critical for good health, in particular for proper bone formation and blood clotting. Only with vitamin K can our health be aye okay, and it would thus be prudent for us to ensure that we get a decent amount of it via our diet.

Good sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, collards, kale and spinach. It is also found in vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, green peas, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard. Other decent dietary sources of the vitamin include canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil and soybean oil.

Main Source

Vitamin K Does Not Stem Bone Mineral Density Decline In Postmenopausal Women With Osteopenia, Study Shows (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20...)

alyscat · 01-06-2009, 12:41 PM

Something a friend of mine sent me on K- (actually, she sent me a lot more, and if you're interested in some of the articles, PM me and I'll send off the forum)

************
While I am not any kind of authority on Vitamin K, my summary of the
hundreds of studies I've read are summarized here. It is a fat soluble
vitamin, usually included with A, D and E. Taken in dietary form (greens),K1
it normally converts to K2 while in the INTACT intestine. As with A, D and
E, people who have any form of malabsorption (such as gastric bypass or issues with severe colitis) can be missing "the converter" for
K, as well.

* K2 decalcifies the blood and the extracted calcium ends up in the
bones
* K2 as MK-4 (synthetic) "might" interfere with blood thinners, like
coumadin.
* K2 as MK-7 is safe in doses as high as 45mg (most is sold in mcg),
even for those using blood thinners
* K1 in dietary form cannot convert to K2 with any tampering of
intestines, at all (i..e., gastric bypass surgery)
* Phytonadione and Phylloquinone appear to be used interchangeably for
K1

Lot of work out there with K. I take it, and at the same time, I have my PTT tested, just to be 'safe' -

alys

01-06-2009, 08:27 AM	#1
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Vitamin K1 may Protect Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia http://www.naturalnews.com/025231.html Osteopenia is a condition whereby there is loss of bone mass; it is not as severe as osteoporosis, but is generally accepted to lead to it. It is estimated that, in the United States, about 10 million people suffer from osteoporosis, while about 18 million have osteopenia. And a recent study conducted at the University of Toronto in Canada has found that vitamin K1 may protect postmenopausal women with osteopenia against bone fracture as well as cancer. Details of Study The study, which was randomized, controlled and led by Dr Angela Cheung, looked at a group of 440 postmenopausal women who suffered from osteopenia. The women were split into two groups – one group received 5 mg of vitamin K1 daily for a period of two years, while the other group received a placebo. In order to find out the effects of long-term consumption of vitamin K1, 260 of the women then continued their treatment for another two more years. All in all, the study team reported that vitamin K1 supplementation was well tolerated by the subjects over the entire 4-year period, and no particular adverse health effects were associated with long-term vitamin K1 supplementation. Findings of Study Tests taken at the 2-year and 4-year marks of the study measured the bone mineral density of the women. Measurements were taken at the lower back and hip. The study found that bone density had decreased at similar rates in both the vitamin K1 and control groups. This implied that vitamin K1 did not stem the loss of bone density which is generally related to advancement in age. However, what was significant was that the women who consumed vitamin K1 suffered fewer fractures than the other group. In the former group, there were only 9 fracture incidents, as compared with 20 in the latter group. In addition, vitamin K1 seemed to offer a protective effect against cancer, too. In the vitamin K1 group, only 3 women got cancer, as opposed to 12 in the placebo group. Discussion The study team has urged caution on their findings with regard to cancer and fractures. This is because, firstly, their study is quite small and, also, it was not actually designed to look at the two conditions. In the long run, larger studies would definitely be needed and, until then, they do not recommend high dose vitamin K1 supplementation for preventing osteoporosis. It would thus also follow that cancer patients or those seeking to prevent the disease should not be rushing to load up on vitamin K1. Having said that, however, vitamin K, which is a fat soluble vitamin, is critical for good health, in particular for proper bone formation and blood clotting. Only with vitamin K can our health be aye okay, and it would thus be prudent for us to ensure that we get a decent amount of it via our diet. Good sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, collards, kale and spinach. It is also found in vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, green peas, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard. Other decent dietary sources of the vitamin include canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil and soybean oil. Main Source Vitamin K Does Not Stem Bone Mineral Density Decline In Postmenopausal Women With Osteopenia, Study Shows (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20...)

01-06-2009, 12:41 PM	#2
alyscat Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington state Posts: 743	Re: Vitamin K1 may Protect Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia Something a friend of mine sent me on K- (actually, she sent me a lot more, and if you're interested in some of the articles, PM me and I'll send off the forum) ************ While I am not any kind of authority on Vitamin K, my summary of the hundreds of studies I've read are summarized here. It is a fat soluble vitamin, usually included with A, D and E. Taken in dietary form (greens),K1 it normally converts to K2 while in the INTACT intestine. As with A, D and E, people who have any form of malabsorption (such as gastric bypass or issues with severe colitis) can be missing "the converter" for K, as well. * K2 decalcifies the blood and the extracted calcium ends up in the bones * K2 as MK-4 (synthetic) "might" interfere with blood thinners, like coumadin. * K2 as MK-7 is safe in doses as high as 45mg (most is sold in mcg), even for those using blood thinners * K1 in dietary form cannot convert to K2 with any tampering of intestines, at all (i..e., gastric bypass surgery) * Phytonadione and Phylloquinone appear to be used interchangeably for K1 Lot of work out there with K. I take it, and at the same time, I have my PTT tested, just to be 'safe' - alys