Vitamin K2:
Surprising benefits from a little known Vitamin

The Calcium Paradox

Scientists have spoken for a long time about the so called Calcium Paradox. This phenomenon is characterized by a simultaneous building up of unwanted calcium deposits in the arteries, atherosclerosis, and loss of calcium from the bones leading to osteoporosis. This occurs particularly in our culture where the calcium supply in the diet is often inadequate.

Vitamin K has been linked for the past decade to these two these very important issues of osteoporosis and cardiovascular calcification. Now, the latest research goes a step beyond and demonstrates that this vitamin may also be linked to overcoming venous insufficiency which leads to varicose veins.

To understand these effects one needs to look at two types of vitamin K dependent proteins called Osteocalcin and MGP's, matrix Gla proteins. Vitamin K activates these proteins.

Vitamin K2 and Osteoporosis

Numerous studies demonstrate a connection between low circulating levels of vitamin K and osteoporosis. With less vitamin K available, less of the osteocalcin protein is formed and this negatively affects the binding of calcium to the bone. Studies have shown that regular intake of particularly the K2 form of vitamin K reduces bone loss and lowers the risk of bone fractures. Interestingly, studies have also shown that vitamin K2 has a clear additional effect over Vitamin D and calcium as such. Since the mechanisms of action are quite different a significant synergy results.

Vitamin K2 and Calcification of the Arteries

Major studies have shown an inverse relationship between long term use of vitamin K and aortic atherosclerotic calcification. In other words, taking vitamin K reduces calcification. Perhaps the greatest predictor of dangerous hardening of the arteries - even more then cholesterol levels - is the calcification of the aorta. The observation that the more regular the intake of vitamin K the less calcification of the aorta is viewed as highly significant. In addition, a study of over 4800 patients again demonstrated that vitamin K2 was superior to simple vitamin K.

Leading researchers believe that vitamin K2 supplementation may not only prevent calcification of the arteries but also helps reverse the arterial damage.

Vitamin K2 has been shown in animal studies to increase elasticity of the blood vessel walls.

Vitamin K2 and Varicose Veins

A recent study released online in the Journal of Vascular Research shows promise for the improvement of the wall strength of veins through administration of vitamin K2. The same proteins mentioned above are apparently also at work in strengthening the smooth muscle cells in venous walls thus lowering the progression of venous insufficiency.

Varicose veins occur in almost 30% of the adult population with a women to man prevalence of almost 3:1. When healthy veins were compared to varicose veins the latter showed a significantly higher level of inactive MGP proteins. This state leads to increased smooth muscle proliferation and mineralization in the vein wall which in turn results in varicosities. Vitamin K2 can activate these proteins again.

Why Vitamin K2

Vitamin K comes in several forms.

The most abundant form is vitamin K1 (phylloquinone). This form is found in green vegetables such as lettuce, spinach and broccoli and green algae. It constitutes about 90% of the typical Western diet vitamin K. However, as vitamin K1 is tightly bound to the plant matter humans are not able to benefit very much from ingested K1 and, even more importantly, K1 has never been proven to inhibit calcification of the arteries.

Vitamin K2 is part of the so called menaquinones. They are much rarer in a typical diet with significant amounts of the MK-4 form in animal meat and liver, and the higher MK-7 (used by True Botanica) found in fermented products such as cheese, curd cheese and Natto. Vitamin K2 can also be synthesized in the gut by the microflora and makes up about 10% of the western diet consumption of vitamin K.

True Botanica offers the highest form of vitamin K2, as MenaQ7, with the following characteristics:

*all natural form

*superior bio-availability

*long presence in the blood stream (long serum half life)

* proven to be redistributed from the liver to the other tissues such as bones,
arteries, veins, etc.

* extremely small quantities are sufficient for a positive clinical effect as opposed to the other synthetic vitamin K products

* well studied for its beneficial effects.

* True Botanica uses the MenaQ7™ form of Vitamin K2. MenaQ7™ is a trademark of NattoPharma, Norway. Do not take a Vitamin K containing product if you are taking blood thinners without talking to your physician.

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References

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3. Knapen MHJ, Schurgers LJ, Vermeer C. Vitamin K2 supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis Int 2007;18:963-72.
4. Kobayashi M, Hara K, Akiyama Y. Vitamin K2 and bone quality. Clin Calcium 2005;15:49-55.
5. Whelan AM, Jurgens TM, Bowles SK. Natural health products in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:836-49.
6. Yasui T, Miyatani Y, Tomita J, et al. Effect of vitamin K2 treatment on carboxylation of osteocalcin in early postmenopausal women. Gynecol Endocrinol 2006;22:455-9.
7. Maas AHEM, vanderSchouw YT, Beijerinck D, et al. Vitamin K intake and calcifications in breast arteries. Maturitas 2007;56:273-9.
8. Sano M, Fujita H, Morita I, Uematsu H, Murota S-. Vitamin K2 (Menatetrenone) induces iNOS in bovine vascular smooth muscle cells: No relationship between nitric oxide production and ?- carboxylation. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 1999;45:711-23.
9. Schurgers LJ, Dissel PEP, Spronk HMH, et al. Role of vitamin K and vitamin K-dependent proteins in vascular calcification. Z Kardiol 2001;90:57-63.
10. Vermeer C, Braam L, Knapen M, Schurgers L. Vitamin K supplements: Unknown effects for bones and the cardiovascular system. Phytotherapie 2006;4: