Do calcium and vitamin K2 increase the risk of heart disease?
Recent scientific evidence, however, suggests that elevated consumption of calcium supplements may raise the risk for heart disease and can be connected with accelerated deposit of calcium in blood-vessel walls and soft tissues. In contrast, vitamin K 2 is associated with the inhibition of arterial calcification and arterial stiffening.
Is vitamin K2 good for elevated CACs?
Higher intake of vitamin K2 favors calcium deposition in bones and teeth rather than arteries. At the Kahn Center, a supplement of vitamin K2 is a routine measure in persons with an elevated CACS. Step 7. What Follow-Up do I Need?
Can vitamin K2 reverse coronary artery calcification?
Vitamin K2 was overlooked until it was “rediscovered” to be an important factor in bone and cardiovascular (CV) health. But the prevailing notion is that vitamin K2 reverses coronary artery calcification, which may affect stable, calcified plaques.
Do vitamin K1 and K2 supplements work to reduce calcium deposits?
Both K1 (green leafy veg.) and K2 (dairy, fermented foods) have some antioxidant properties, but clinical trials have not shown any evidence that vitamin K supplements can slow calcium deposits in artery walls.
How much K2 should I take with calcium?
Limit calcium supplements to 500 mg daily. You can take up to 300 mcg daily of MK-7, a form of vitamin k2.
Does vitamin K2 reduce plaque in arteries?
In the K+D group, a significant decrease in the level of dp-ucMGP and total OC was observed. Conclusions: A 270-day course of vitamin K2 administration in patients with CKD stages 3-5 may reduce the progression of atherosclerosis, but does not significantly affect the progression of calcification.
Does vitamin K2 prevent calcification of arteries?
Thus, Vitamin K-2 acts as an essential cofactor to prevent calcification of our blood vessels. This vital fact is only recently understood. Vitamin K-2 acts to prevent calcification of arteries, and it can reverse calcification after it happens.
What is the recommended amount of vitamin K2?
between 100 and 300 microgramsAdults should ensure they are getting between 100 and 300 micrograms of vitamin K2 per day. Children under 12 need just 45 micrograms per day. People with particular medical conditions may need more, as recommended by their doctor. There are no known serious side effects from taking too much vitamin K2.
Can K2 reduce calcium score?
An increased intake of vitamin K2 could be a means of lowering calcium-associated health risks. In contrast, vitamin K2 is associated with the inhibition of arterial calcification and arterial stiffening,9,10 which means that increased vitamin K2 intake could be a means of lowering calcium-associated health risks.
Can heart patients take vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2's role in heart health Vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing calcium buildup in arteries around the heart. In the Rotterdam Study, scientists looked at the vitamin K1 and K2 intake of 4,807 Dutch women and men older than 55 over a 10-year period.
How do I lower my cardiac calcium score?
Eat more whole grains, reduce refined foods and sugars. Smoking and excess consumption of alcohol increase your risk of heart problems. Also, stop or limit your dairy products intake, including milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. Aim at reducing your calcium intake.
How many mcg are in K2?
Dosage. The starting dose of vitamin K2 is typically 100 mcg daily; however, higher doses have been commonly used.
How much K2 do you need with D3?
100 mcg vitamin K2 per day: for healthy people under the age of 50, who do not take any additional vitamin D3. for all people, who take up to 2500 IU vitamin D per day.
Can you take vitamin K2 everyday?
and Warnings. When taken by mouth: The two forms of vitamin K (vitamin K1 and vitamin K2) are likely safe when taken appropriately. Vitamin K1 10 mg daily and vitamin K2 45 mg daily have been safely used for up to 2 years. It's usually well-tolerated, but some people may have an upset stomach or diarrhea.
What is vitamin K?
Vitamin K is a cofactor for 1 enzyme, γ-glutamylcarboxylase, which γ-carboxylates certain glutamic-acid residues posttranslationally in a number of vitamin K–dependent (VKD) proteins. This γ-carboxylation allows VKD proteins to bind calcium.
What is the fat soluble compound needed for blood clotting?
Later, it was found that the fat-soluble compound needed for blood clotting existed in 2 forms: phylloquinone (vitamin K 1) and menaquinone (vitamin K2).32Vitamin K1is made in plants and algae; green leafy vegetables are a particularly rich source.
What vitamin is used to prevent chickens from bleeding?
He found that the bleeding tendencies found in the chickens on that diet could be prevented when a diet with normal levels of fat was restored and vitamin K was added to their diets. From that point forward, vitamin K became known as the coagulation vitamin, the “K” coming from the German word koagulation.31.
Does vitamin K2 help with vascular damage?
An adequate intake of vitamin K2has been shown to lower the risk of vascular damage because it activates matrix GLA protein (MGP), which inhibits the deposits of calcium on the walls. Vitamin K, particularly as vitamin K2, is nearly nonexistent in junk food, with little being consumed even in a healthy Western diet.
Does vitamin K2 cause heart disease?
Calcium Concerns: Vitamin K2. Studies illustrate that high calcium consumption helps strengthen the skeleton but, at the same time , may increase the risk of heart disease due to arterial calcification.3–8,22Inactive proteins regulating calcium, such as MGP, correlate with the development of arterial calcification.
Does calcium increase bone density?
Inadequate calcium intake can lead to decreased bone mineral density, which can increase the risk of bone fractures. Supplemental calcium promotes bone mineral density and strength and can prevent osteoporosis (ie, porous bones), particularly in older adults and postmenopausal women.1,2However, recent scientific evidence suggests ...
Does calcium cause bone fractures?
Inadequate calcium intake can lead to decreased bone mineral density, which can increase the risk of bone fractures. Supplemental calcium promotes bone mineral density and strength and can prevent osteoporosis. Recent scientific evidence, however, suggests that elevated consumption of calcium supplements may raise the risk for heart disease ...
What is the purpose of vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2 MK-7 and the Activation of Osteocalcin and MGP. Taking a daily vitamin K2 MK-7 supplement is an action people can take to prevent arterial calcification. K2 has even been shown to reverse existing calcification and restore flexibility and elasticity to vessels. K2 regulates calcium in the body. Vitamin K2 is the necessary cofactor ...
What is the role of vitamin K2 in the body?
K2 regulates calcium in the body. Vitamin K2 is the necessary cofactor for the activation of osteocalcin proteins, which are produced by osteoblast cells located in the bones. Activated osteocalcin binds free-floating calcium in the blood and transports and integrates it into the bone matrix.
What is the enzyme that protects the heart from the effects of calcium?
K2 also activates a second important enzyme that specifically protects the heart from the unhealthy effects of calcium. Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is another calcium-binding enzyme activated by vitamin K2. 9 When activated, MGP binds excess calcium in the blood and prevents it from being deposited in arteries.
How much does CVD cost?
Although heart disease represents individual and family hardship, in broader terms, CVD is estimated to cost the EU h200 billion annually. In the US, estimates show that CVD-related costs may reach $818 billion ...
How many people die from CVD each year?
An estimated 17.3 million people die from CVD each year, representing 31.5% of all global deaths. Of these, an estimated 7.4 million are caused by coronary heart disease and 6.7 million because of stroke. In fact, CVD causes 47% of all deaths in Europe and is the leading cause of premature death for both women and men in most countries. 1,2.
What is the process of absorbing calcium?
The soft tissues of the body, specifically the arteries and vessels of the circulatory system, can begin to absorb and integrate excess calcium in a process called tissue calcification. Skin callouses and kidney stones are other examples of tissue calcification and the improper use of calcium.
What is the role of vitamin D3 in bone building?
Bone building represents most calcium use in the body; specialised enzymes bind calcium in the blood, transport it to our bones and integrate it into the bone matrix.
When was the CAC score developed?
The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score was developed in the 1980s to quantify coronary calcification. Using electron beam or multidetector computed tomography (EBCT or MDCT), serial three-millimeter sections from the aorta through the apex of the heart are x-rayed.
How much of the plaque area is calcified?
Arterial plaques calcify over time. The calcified portion of plaques occupies approximately 20 percent of the total plaque area, so we can estimate the total plaque/lesion area from its calcium content imaged by a CT scan.
What are the risks of CAC?
Some of the risks of the CAC score include the following: 1 The radiation dose delivered is 50 percent more than a mammogram ( 5 ), which can increase cancer risk with repeat exposures ( 10 ). 2 An increasing score over time could indicate an increase in plaque density rather than in size. 3 The score does not give information about arterial stenosis (although someone without calcification is very unlikely to have arterial narrowing). 4 The interscan variability is non-negligible ( 11 ).
What is the Framingham risk score?
The Framingham Risk Score predicts a person’s chance of developing CVD within the next 10 years, based on age, diabetes, smoking, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. However, this model only identifies 70 percent of individuals at risk for CVD ( 5 ). What’s more, up to 60 percent of cardiovascular events occur in those who were classified as “low” or “intermediate” risk by the Framingham Risk Score ( 5 ). Adding the CAC to the risk calculation better predicts CVD and clinical outcomes ( 6, 7 ). The CAC score on its own is a verified independent predictor of cardiovascular events ( 8 ).
Why is vitamin C needed?
Vitamin C is required to make collagen, a major constituent of the arterial wall. When vitamin C isn’t adequate to fix arterial wall damage, lipoproteins instead patch up the hole and begin the process of atherosclerosis. Humans cannot make vitamin C and must obtain it from diet.
Can CAC be reversed?
It remains unclear from the literature if a high CAC score can actually be reversed, or if lowering it is even beneficial. For these reasons, the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association do not recommend taking serial CAC measurements and/or basing treatments off it alone ( 26 ).
Do you need calcium supplements?
Say No to Calcium Supplements. Yes, strong bones require calcium, along with adequate vitamin D, exercise, and vitamin K2, but calcium supplements are not the answer! Calcium supplements increase the risks of arterial stiffness and heart attack ( 37, 38, 39 ).
Who was the first person to show the ability to reverse heart plaque?
The ability to halt and reverse heart plaque was shown in 1990 with lifestyle changes by Dean Ornish, M.D. He prescribed a plant-based diet without added fats to patients with proven heart blockages. He also recommended walking, social support and stress management including yoga and meditation to help their hearts.
Can chelation reverse atherosclerosis?
Chelation. Beyond diet, there may be other methods supported by scientific studies to reverse atherosclerosis. Over 60 years ago some data surfaced that chelation therapy (Latin for claw) using disodium ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid or EDTA could reverse heart artery disease.
Can a CACS return at 1000?
There are differences of practice If your CACS returns at a very high score (e.g. >1000) even if you have no symptoms. Some cardiologists recommend an invasive cardiac catheterization as described in a recent media article. I have performed cardiac catheterization on dozens of people with scores over 1,000 (one as high as 6,000) and often found only mild plaque or one totally blocked artery that was treated with medication and lifestyle. Rarely, the blockages found in an asymptomatic person is so advanced, often coupled with a markedly abnormal stress test, that a discussion about a coronary stent or even coronary artery bypass grafting is appropriate. Overall, this is rare. In my clinic practice, I usually first recommend a stress test rather than a cardiac catheterization in patients without any symptoms or other high-risk features. An individualized approach is recommended when you discuss this with your cardiologist.
Can you take statins with a zero CACS?
One of the strongest arguments to have a CACS is that if you have a zero score and have no symptoms, there is growing agreement that there is not need for a daily aspirin or a statin cholesterol lowering medication. Lifestyle discussed below emphasizing a healthy diet is always a recommendation. A statement by a joint group of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology in late 2018 incorporated the concept that a CACS before starting a statin prescription was acceptable and avoiding medication after a Zero CACS was often preferable. The same is true for daily aspiring.
Can you get vitamin K2 from a reverse diet?
Finally, vitamin K2 can be difficult to obtain from a heart disease reversal diet unless soy derived natto is consumed. A study of over 4,800 residents of Rotterdam demonstrated that higher intake of vitamin K2 was associated with less arterial calcification and fewer CAD events.
Is it okay to take statins before zero CACS?
A statement by a joint group of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology in late 2018 incorporated the concept that a CACS before starting a statin prescription was acceptable and avoiding medication after a Zero CACS was often preferable. The same is true for daily aspiring.
How does vitamin K2 activate calcium?
It is activated by a carboxylation, a reaction in which vitamin K2 is the essential cofactor. Once activated, osteocalcin binds calcium in the bloodstream for transport into the bone matrix. Vitamin K2 also activates matrix Gla protein (or MGP) through carboxylation. MGP is another protein that ensures that calcium is used in bones ...
What is vitamin K?
In 1935, Danish biochemist Carl Peter Henrik Dam described a food additive that reduced blood clotting in chicks fed with an extremely low-fat diet. He named it “vitamin K,” after the first letter for the Danish and German word for coagulation (Shampo, 1998).
What is the role of osteocalcin in calcium homeostasis?
It appears to do so, and it has something to do with osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein. Osteocalcin is a protein produced by osteo blasts, with important roles in bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis. It is activated by a carboxylation, a reaction in which vitamin K2 is the essential cofactor. Once activated, osteocalcin binds calcium in the ...
What is the best vitamin for diabetes mellitus?
Here’s one good article. It’s titled “Effect of vitamin K2 on type 2 diabetes mellitus: A review” (Li, 2017). Some of the points highlighted in this review are: 1 Vitamin K2 has a more significant impact on diabetes than vitamin K1. 2 Taking vitamin K2 lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 7% per 10 mcg increment. 3 Vitamin K2 improves insulin sensitivity through osteocalcin, anti-inflammatory properties, and lipid-lowering effects.
What is the protein that ensures calcium is used in bones and not deposited in arteries and other tissues?
MGP is another protein that ensures that calcium is used in bones and not deposited in arteries and other tissues. If you like a deeper look into vitamin K2, MGP , and osteocalcin, check out our other article on vitamin K2.
Which vitamin suppresses bone loss?
Osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In terms of bone health, the first vitamin we usually think of is vitamin D. But there are multiple animal studies showing vitamin K2 suppressing bone loss.
Who discovered the structure of vitamin K?
A few years later, American biochemist Edward Adelbert Doisy determined vitamin K’s chemical structure and succeeded in synthesizing it. For their work on vitamin K, Dam and Doisy shared a 1943 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Ask the doctor
Q. I recently got a coronary artery calcium scan and the results showed that I have quite a bit of calcium in my heart arteries (my score was 900). Should I have an angiogram to confirm the results? I don't have any heart-related symptoms, but I'm worried about having a heart attack.
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