Is anyone on methotrexate and taking Vitamin K2?

Hello @susan333jax
I’ve been taking 200 mcg vitamin K2 MK-7 daily since February with no ill effects. It was a nutritionist recommendation to “help preserve bone in elderly.” I’m eager to see if benefits show up in DEXA testing later this month.
I also increased injectable methotrexate (MTX) dosage for a cPAN vasculitis flare around the same time.

These three “reviews” have sections on vitamin K2 benefits for osteo- and/or rheumatoid arthritis patients.
2017 Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5494092/pdf/JNME2017-6254836.pdf
2019 Vitamin K as a Powerful Micronutrient in Aging and Age-Related Diseases: Pros and Cons from Clinical Studies https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/17/4150
2022 Vitamin K https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322005476

And here's two vitamin K2 clinical studies that draw from an RA population, most of whom are taking a DMARD. Over 60% of the patients in both studies report taking MTX:

2013 Vitamin K2 administration is associated with decreased disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10165-012-0789-4.pdf
∘158 female RA patients, 45 mg daily for 3 months
∘over sixty percent of the participants were taking MTX

2015 Menaquinone-7 as a novel pharmacological therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A clinical study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299915300777
∘84 RA patients, 100 mcg/day for three months
∘over three quarters of the participants were taking MTX

The url @johnbishop shared used an "in vitro" test system of human lymphocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients. The immunosuppressive effect of combining vitamin K2 and methotrexate is greater than the effect of either agent alone. It is however less than the sum of the individual effects of vitamin K2 and MTX.

Thank you for sharing this. I saved the links and hope to look into each one as I have time. I discontinued methotrexate and prednisone treatment after 45 weeks- too many negative side effects- weight gain - foggy brain- anger.
Taking nothing now but see a new rheumatologist next week. RA has flared again and I know there has to be the right combo of meds/vitamins. Again- thank you.

@kmacky I hope the new rheumy helps you feel better and sort prednisone side effects from MTX side effects.

Hello @susan333jax, Welcome to Connect. While we wait for other members who may have experience taking Vitamin K2 while on methotrexate, I thought I would share this reference that discusses why it may be a good idea.

--- Effects of vitamin K2 combined with methotrexate against mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy subjects and rheumatoid arthritis patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33780033/.

Did your doctor suggest adding Vitamin K2 to your methotrexate treatment?

Hello @susan333jax
I’ve been taking 200 mcg vitamin K2 MK-7 daily since February with no ill effects. It was a nutritionist recommendation to “help preserve bone in elderly.” I’m eager to see if benefits show up in DEXA testing later this month.
I also increased injectable methotrexate (MTX) dosage for a cPAN vasculitis flare around the same time.

These three “reviews” have sections on vitamin K2 benefits for osteo- and/or rheumatoid arthritis patients.
2017 Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5494092/pdf/JNME2017-6254836.pdf
2019 Vitamin K as a Powerful Micronutrient in Aging and Age-Related Diseases: Pros and Cons from Clinical Studies https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/17/4150
2022 Vitamin K https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322005476

And here's two vitamin K2 clinical studies that draw from an RA population, most of whom are taking a DMARD. Over 60% of the patients in both studies report taking MTX:

2013 Vitamin K2 administration is associated with decreased disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10165-012-0789-4.pdf
∘158 female RA patients, 45 mg daily for 3 months
∘over sixty percent of the participants were taking MTX

2015 Menaquinone-7 as a novel pharmacological therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A clinical study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299915300777
∘84 RA patients, 100 mcg/day for three months
∘over three quarters of the participants were taking MTX

The url @johnbishop shared used an "in vitro" test system of human lymphocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients. The immunosuppressive effect of combining vitamin K2 and methotrexate is greater than the effect of either agent alone. It is however less than the sum of the individual effects of vitamin K2 and MTX.