Vitamin K: High Doses of MK-4 and MK-7 Show Promising Results

Japan has been using MK-4 as common protocol for a good 25 years. They have done studies backing this up. Came upon this information just weeks ago.

But isn't the Japanese MK-4 Rx for a total of 45 mg taken in (3) 15 mg doses throughout the day? Is it also beneficial to take the 45 mg all at once?

@singingbones You are correct that the Japanese MK-4 Rx for a total of 45 mg taken in (3) 15 mg, as described in the second reference that @daisy17 provides above. But later research has suggested that lower doses and other forms in lower doses may be just as good, as described in the first reference from Daisy.

I also wanted to know what doses, frequencies, and type of Vitamin K take. I have read some or all of about 28 papers and doctor's discussions etc. I save the links in my browser bookmarks, so I really do have a count. But I do not have clear conclusions which frustrates the heck out of me! The data and conclusions are varied, and often tough technical reading. My memory is that every study supported Vitamin K2 in the form of MK-4 and/or MK-7 for bone health.

With no drug company to benefit from patents there are not newer big RCT research into Vitamin K2 that measure fractures or BMD as response. Instead the researchers have to do the cheaper blood tests especially Osteocalcin γ-Carboxylation.

Normally when I post I also try to put in good references, for what I have found, but this topic is to hard to that. Below is one reference, to add to the 2 references that @daisy17 has above.

"Efficacy and safety of vitamin K2 for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at a long-term follow-up: meta-analysis and systematic review"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35711002/
This meta-analysis and systematic review seemed to support the hypothesis that vitamin K2 plays an important role in the maintenance and improvement of BMD, and it decreases uc-OC and increases OC significantly at a long-term follow-up. Vitamin K2 supplementation is beneficial and safe in the treatment of osteoporosis for postmenopausal women.

There aren't many good studies on it. My approach is that taking K2 probably helps, and it doesn't hurt. It's not going to turn osteoporosis into osteopenia, in my view. It's just a piece of the puzzle. I've been taking it for three years. Has it helped? No idea. I take and do a lot of other things. The only proof is when you have one group of patients taking it, another group not taking it, keep all other factors the same, and then see what happens.

@kfhoz That's why I chose to take the higher doses of MK-4 and MK-7 since I've read those doses are safe and any excess is excreted by the body.

@singingbones I haven't found any MK-4 supplements in a 15 mg dose. I did find one that has two tablets equalling 45mg but it also has 1000IU vitamin D and my daily vitamin already contains that amount of D.

I did find this article that says: "MK4's serum half-life is roughly two hours — and that rapid disappearance from blood isn't a weakness. It's the opposite. Your body pulls MK4 straight into the brain, bone, kidney, pancreas, and reproductive organs...What leaves the bloodstream fastest may be doing the most work. If a nutrient's invisible in a blood draw, it's often because it already reached where it needs to be. https://threearrowsnutra.com/blogs/ironwarrior/mk4-vs-mk7

@daisy17 - AOR Peak K2 Vitamin K2 MK-4 is a product that comes from Canada that is also sold on Amazon.

This Inspire forum thread on the same topic has been helpful as I navigate these decisions, too:
https://www.inspire.com/m/Kathleen1314/journal/7c2651-mk4-and-mk7-research-and-studies-affecting-bone-health-vitamin-k/reply/835234287379953746/

@daisy17 - meant to add that the AOR MK4 is formulated for the 15 mg dose - can be taken 3x day. Pricey for sure. Interesting read on the link you sent. Thank you!

@singingbones Thanks. I intend to do more research on whether MK-4 works better if taken in split doses. If I find anything of interest, I'll post about it.

@njx58 I find it crazy and irritating that us osteoporosis sufferers have to do all of this research on our own about alternative treatments when osteoporosis has been a problem for women (and some men) for years. All the bone drugs have potentially serious side effects and many are hugely expensive. It seems like the U.S. lags behind foreign countries, such as Japan, in this regard. I think it's because the pharmaceutical industry drives health care in our country.

I find the same situation with fibromyalgia, which I also have. The drugs to treat that have terrible side effects, are addicting, and only offer minimal benefits to about 30% of the people who take them.