Osteoporosis--Don't Forget Vitamin K2

2008-05-05T02:09:00.007-06:00

Osteoporosis is a major health concern in the United States and leads to an inability to do normal, daily tasks and even early death. More than 10 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, and the National Osteoporosis Foundation indicates that 44 million people are at risk for the disease by virtue of having low bone mineral densities. Each year 1.5 million fractures occur in people with osteoporosis. The cost of treating fractures of the spine alone is more than $745 million. Hip fractures are more expensive still.

People with osteoporosis are at an increased risk for fractures, particularly of weight-bearing bones such as the hip and spine. Debilitating acute and chronic pain in the elderly is often attributed to fractures from osteoporosis and can lead to further disability. Fractures of the hip and spine have a 15% greater chance of dying within five years than people without these fractures. After a hip fracture, only 50% of people regain the same level of independence they had before the injury, and 12 to 40% of patients who suffer hip fractures die within 6 months.

While calcium and vitamin D are important, they aren't the whole story. In fact, clinical trials mostly conclude that these two nutrients decrease the rate of bone loss, but don't necessarily decrease the risk of fracture. Decreasing fracture risk is the most important thing for preventing complications from osteoporosis. In fact, the only risk from osteoporosis is fractures, so what people really should be looking as is the ability for a drug or nutrient to decrease fracture risk.

Well, the best nutrient for your bones turns out not to be vitamin D or calcium, although they are important. The most important is Vitamin K2. There have been many clinical trials using vitamin K2. So many, in fact, that the esteemed Archives of Internal medicine published a review of all the clinical trials for osteoporosis that used vitamin K2. The researchers concluded that 45 mg of vitamin K2 decreases the risk of vertebral fractures by 60%, hip fractures by 71% and all nonvertebral fractures by 81%. This is better than Fosamax without any of the Fosamax side effects.

The only bone formula currently on the market that contains this amount of vitamin K2, plus calcium and vitamin D is Osteo-K, which was formulated by Dr. Neustadt to help his patients. It's now available to anyone in stores and online at www.nbihealth.com. Don't wait until it's too late. Take Osteo-K.

Some people ask if vitamin K2 increases clotting risk because they've heard that people taking blood thinners such as warfarin (eg, coumadin) shouldn't take extra vitamin K. Clinical trials that used vitamin K2 evaluated this question and showed no increase in the tendency to clot. However, people taking coumadin should absolutely not take extra vitamin K as a dietary supplement unless they speak with their healthcare provider first.

To your health,

Dr. Neustadt

MIM Health Blog

Osteoporosis--Don't Forget Vitamin K2