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Vitamin K2 Could Save Your Life
Millions of people take vitamin D and calcium supplements for bone health. New research shows that this actually increases the risk of heart attack and stroke because the added calcium builds up in the arteries ~ the calcium paradox. The secret to keeping bones strong and arteries clear is vitamin K2. For decades women have been advised to simply take more calcium. 800 mg. became 1000 mg. then 1200 mg and some women are advised to take up to 1500 mg. of extra calcium. The first problem is that more calcium does not build stronger bones.
The second problem is that recent research has also revealed that excess calcium can be deposited in the arteries contributing to arteriosclerosis. This research is also suggesting that we do not need more calcium, we need calcium managers. Calcium managers are co-nutrients that aid building bones. Perhaps the best known calcium manager is vitamin D. But even calcium plus vitamin D is not enough.
This is where vitamin K2 comes in. Vitamin K2 helps to channel calcium into the bones, and maybe just as importantly, vitamin K2 helps keep calcium from depositing into the artery wall where is is not beneficial. Without Vitamin K2, the body cannot direct calcium to the bones where it’s needed; instead, the calcium resides in soft tissue (like the arteries)—leading to a combination of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis, or the dreaded “calcium paradox.” This is the first book to reveal how universal a Vitamin K2 deficiency is, and the risk (in the form of cancer and diabetes, among other ailments) the absence of Vitamin K2 poses.
About Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue
Kate Rhéaume-Bleue is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and leading health expert. Dr. Kate speaks internationally on topics related to natural medicine and is a contributor to several health-related publications.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Have been trying to help a friend with estrogen receptor positive breast cance which has deteriorated her pelvis, to select a calcium supplement. She has been using a whole food calcium supplement, but just noticed that the source of Vit. K2 is Natto Extract from fermented soy, and a red flag went up due to the implications of soy and estrogen postive breast cancer. Should she stay away from the K2 Natto source, and also some natural brands are using a ferment media (organic milled soy, organic Saccharomyces cerevisiae) ? Thank you.
The K2 that is produced will be highly purified and not contain the compounds associated with whole soy. I don’t think she should have to avoid this product. However there are many options in the market place so there are other products to consider if one is more comfortable avoiding any soy related products.
Will Vitamin K2 benefit the re-occurrence of calcium oxalate kidney stones caused by hyperparathyroid disease?
Interesting question. I don’t know the answer but you can search for that specifically and see what you find.
For me the the real paradox is whether or not to take a calcium supplement. If indeed you need K2 And D3, why bother taking the risk of too much calcium in a supplement and just increase it naturally?
What seems to be emerging is that women don’t need high amounts of calcium supplements. That has been tried for decades without much success. It is now being suggested that women look to supplement only 500 to 800 mg of calcium per day.
Of course it is ideal to get your calcium from your food but it is not easily done. You could study your diet to get an idea of how much calcium you get from food and seek to supplement the rest. The calcium supplement should be a better, more easily assimilated from of calcium.
I believe it is the subtle additive difference of many nutrients that makes the difference. In addition to the main nutients of calcium, magnesium, D3 and K3, I recommend BioSil, strontium citrate and Ostivone.
There is some controversy regarding strontium so you may want to examine that as the science is still emerging and opinions are conflicted.
Good luck and best wishes.
I have been researching K2 and came across your wonderful article. It’s to the point and I am going to show it to my doctor. I can’t find anything that says how much K2 a post-menopausal woman should take to avoid osteoporosis, or a man who already has osteoporosis. Do you have any suggestions? Our doctors don’t have any comments and don’t even seem to be aware of the importance of K2, so they are no help. Thank you.
The target daily dose of K2 would 80 to 120 mcg.
Very informative. I have osteoporosis, so I am glad I am doing the right thing by taking the isotonic D with K2 as well as calcium.
There are a few other important nutrients that you should explore for bone health. Bio-Sil Silica, Magnesium, and Strontium can provide additional benefits. Each nutrient plays a unique role in bone health, so taking a variety of studied nutrients will provide the greatest overall benefit.
Thanks for the share! My patients appreciate all the good information! Good stuff that needs to be shared!
Thank you for your kind words. Your recommendation is my highest honor.