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osteoporosis, calcium supplements and calcium paradox
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Apr 18 11:07am | Replies (129)Comment receiving replies
@prarysky Are you going to start taking the higher (45mg) dose of Vitamin K or MK-4?
I found this from AI Assist: "In Japan, high doses of MK-4 (menaquinone-4), a form of vitamin K2, have been prescribed for decades to treat osteoporosis, showing significant improvements in bone density and reduced fracture risk. Studies indicate that doses around 45 mg daily can effectively help build new bone and slow bone loss."
I also found this: ""MK4 (45 mg/day, given in divided doses and not all at once) has been so well researched that since 1995 it’s been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health for the treatment of osteoporosis and bone pain caused by osteoporosis". I believe the divided dose is because the vitamin has a short half-life. I also found this review: "The only other bone therapy I find acceptable is vitamin K2 (MK4) at 45 mg/day (15 mg taken three times per day). MK4 at this dosage is given by prescription in Japan and other Asian countries for osteoporosis."
Attached is a link to one study I found. The dosages were: "Participants took low-dose MK-4 (0.5 mg) for 3 weeks (until the second visit), then medium-dose MK-4 (5 mg) for 3 weeks (until the third visit), then high-dose MK-4 (45 mg) for 3 weeks." Findings: " Compared to 5 mg/day, there was no additional benefit of 45 mg/day. There were no major side effects of MK-4 supplementation. In postmenopausal women with osteoporotic fractures, supplementation with either 5 or 45 mg/day of MK-4." So this study found 5mg/ adequate. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30816822/
Another interesting articles: https://betterbones.com/bone-health-basics/vitamin-k2-mk7-vs-mk4/
This one says: "Low-dose (1.5-mg daily) vitamin K2 (MK-4) supplementation for 12 months improves bone metabolism and prevents forearm bone loss in postmenopausal Japanese women...without any substantial adverse effects." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23702931/
I need to do some more research on this. I wonder why this isn't recommended in the U.S.?
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@daisy17 You have found some very interesting info! That's the first time I've read about study participants starting MK-4 at a low dosage and then increasing it to the full 45 mg. We rarely see studies comparing different dosages. I am curious to know the Japanese Ministry of Health's response to this study. I would assume it has studied the MK-4 dosage over longer periods of time than this study. Still, it's an intriguing study.
I used to take both MK4 and MK7 but stopped taking both when I was diagnosed with afib and started Eliquis, and that was followed by a breast cancer diagnosis. I'm still on Eliquis but had a heart ablation in September. When I asked my electrophysiolgoist if I could resume MK-4, he didn't object.
My plan is to start MK4 but not MK7 which is sometimes linked to heart palpitations. I still need to get the okay from my cardiologist who specializes in cancer to be sure she's also okay with resuming Mk-4. She may tell me I can' take it while taking Eliquis. Have no idea.
So many doctors! It's a challenge juggling all the contraindications when you have multiple issues and medications.
As to your last question, though, yes...many of us wonder why more doctors are not aware of this Japanese approach to osteoporosis. It seems to fit the bill of "do not harm" better than many of the osteoporosis drugs they prescribe.