Vitamin k2 (mk7)

[Red18]

Morning to you all. I have been given the diagnosis I have atherosclerosis. I have heard that taking vitamin mk7 could help in the reduction of plaque. Would be really grateful if anybody has any views on taking this vitamin. Thankyou. All have a great Sunday.

[Chappychap]

"I have heard that taking vitamin mk7 could help in the reduction of plaque."

The view of the BHF and the NHS is that atherosclerosis is incurable and progressive. The best you can hope for is to slow down or, ideally, arrest the progress of the disease.

Achieving this requires medication and lifestyle changes, the more effective the life style changes the more arduous they tend to be, ie significant weight loss, clearing nicotine out of your system, 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise, removing refined carbs and processed foods from your diet, etc.

I wish I could reverse my heart disease just by popping a few supplements, but unfortunately I don't believe quick and easy solutions will have any benefit.

[Ianc2]

Interesting article, thanks for posting it. Vitamin D deficiency seems to be widespread following a typical British winter. Do you follow the mediteranean (?) diet and eat olive oil?

[benjijen]

I agree, I've been low carb for about 10 weeks now and it's made quite a difference. For the misinformed it doesn't mean cutting out veg and just eating meat and dairy! I've never been bothered by cakes and sweets but have now cut out pasta, cereals and bread (I call them 'stodge'). I have already lost weight and been able to cut levels of one of my BP meds and my statin. I have been going to cardiac rehab, usually 3 times a week, for 2 years now and that must also be a factor. I haven't felt this good or clear headed for as long as I can remember and I'm even sleeping a little better. At the moment I'm trying to pluck up the courage to go on local 3k Parkrun (walk in my case!) but I'm still overweight and 65 years old and none of those in the photos look like that so am worried about looking stupid; vanity I suppose. The only supplement I take is D3 in the winter. I do wish the NHS would at least encourage people to give this lifestyle a try, but they are so slow to embrace changes - look at the egg debacle for instance. If it doesn't work then they've lost nothing.

[LadycroftFlyer in reply to benjijen]

Hi there benjijen I’d be interested to hear how/where you do cardiac rehab 3 times a week for 2 years? Is this a local gym and does it cost? Coz the free NHS programmes only last a few weeks. I’m on the NHS programme after heart surgery Dec last. I’m never going to exercise on my own but I’d like to keep going to a class.

[benjijen in reply to LadycroftFlyer]

I went to stages 1 to 3 after stents under supervision of the cardiac dept at the hospital. They then give out leaflets referring you to stage 4 rehab. If you go on your hospital website you may find details in your area of stage 4 or you could just 'google' it. Just make sure you check that those taking the group are qualified specifically in heart rehab. Our classes are free for the first month and you pay either as you go or monthly after that. The one I go to is in a room at our local gym but the others within the same group are in community halls/school sites etc. Most of the classes in our group are only twice a week but participants can come to our site as well to make up the 3 if they want.

[LadycroftFlyer in reply to benjijen]

That’s helpful thanks.

[Ianc2 in reply to LadycroftFlyer]

Join the ramblers.

[emjay18 in reply to LadycroftFlyer]

There are a set of BHF exercises on a DVD that a re free !!

[Adaboo]

What Londinium is taking is about right, you need Vit c in large amounts pls google it. Vit D 3 with Vit K mk7 +4 a lot of people take together. I’m not sure it can reduce the plaque you already have, but it takes the calcium and put it’s in your bones where it should be instead of it laying in your arteries. Recently studies have proved that statins are causing calcification in arteries too, which they “ think” is how they might stabilise plaque! Love the way they just “ think” this! Scary! I think we need to take charge of our own health. Together with exercise and a low carb diet as heart disease is caused by inflammation not cholesterol. Good luck.

[LadycroftFlyer in reply to Adaboo]

Hi Adaboo where do you go to find the research about inflammation & heart disease? This feels right to me but I’d like to know more about it & what you can do.

[Adaboo in reply to LadycroftFlyer]

Hi, the best thing is google inflammation and heart disease and you will see loads. I’ve spent months reading, and I won’t read studies that are about statins if they were paid for by a big pharma company. Look also at Linus Pauling and Vit c

[LadycroftFlyer in reply to Adaboo]

Thanks. Yes that’s what I figured, months of reading! I’m not sure I’ve got the resolve for it. But at the same time I don’t want another operation in 8/10 yrs. I’ll start on inflammation & heart disease.

[Adaboo in reply to LadycroftFlyer]

I’m a closet researcher I think lol. Seriously it won’t take you long to figure it out and make your own decisions. Just don’t take Vit k if you’re on warfarin.

[greg-brown-fife]

I feel that the known science of vitamin K is already very complex as well as far from complete. That would make me hesitant about any "silver bullet" impact reducing plaque in arteries. I had to have a triple by-pass to deal with atherosclerosis. My aim now is to prevent its recurrence. My cardiologist, has prescribed asprin, which I take. As far as I can see, this has an opposite effect on blood as vitamin K. In the absence of any better guidance, I take the asprin. However, my main lifestyle changes to inhibit any further development of atherosclerosis amount to adopting an anti-inflamatory diet. I have succeeded in cutting out refined sugar and white flour products almost completely. I eat many foods with anti-inflamatory qualities. I exercise moderately and taken together, I feel great and full of vitality. I used to have colds and flus regularly. In the 18 months I have been on this lifestyle regime, I have not had a serious cold or flu. I almost can't believe it. So whatever else you do, I suggest you consider an anti-inflamatory diet.

[Adaboo in reply to greg-brown-fife]

You’re right, Vit K does have a function for blood clotting which is important if taking warfarin. Clopidogrel and aspirin aren’t affected by it or anything it seems which is worrying tbh. I’m not sure anything makes plaque reduce, but vit k may help not to calcify your arteries.

[LadycroftFlyer in reply to greg-brown-fife]

Hi Greg good to hear you’ve got a good result with changing yr diet. I had bypass surgery in Dec and I’m also on the road to cutting out sugar. I’ll have to look up anti-inflammatory diet see what the other villains are. Re aspirin I think they proscribe that to reduce risk of blood clots/stroke after surgery. Which makes sense to me so I’m taking them too. I eat low fat live yoghurt at the same time to help the impact on my stomach and it seems to work. But I dnt think you have to continue that long with aspirin. Great to hear about no colds flu. I had bad coughing virus went on for weeks and right after that Angina symptoms. So I can do without those too. Good luck.

[emjay18]

Look at Dr Ford Brewer's videos, Ivor Cummings web pages (Irish heart Foundation) and books , the book "Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox " I had a Calcium Score of 1829, had a triple bypass, have been taking Vitamin K2 - M7 and feel fine. I have been told that I cannot have another CAC scan because of the bypass stitching but am investigating that. I am a 76 year old male, and I am fed an anti inflammatory diet !!

[Red18 in reply to emjay18]

Hi Emjay. Can you still take aspirin daily if you take vitamin k2 (mk7) ? Thankyou

[emjay18 in reply to Red18]

I am fine. Vitamin K1 is the coagulant effecting version - totally different from K2 which is not.

[Adaboo]

I wish they would do more complete studies though. What do you think about nattokinase and serrapeptase?

[Ianc2]

Have a look at the China study, the Spanish study and the American nurses study 'Key choices for women'. I am constantly amazed at the number of people who, in many cases profess to have healthy lifestyles but are having to have stents fitted, In some cases repeatedly.

[Adaboo]

I like the sound of natto for the fact it eats fibrin? Serrapeptase is of more interest but a few people have questioned if it could digest the top of plaque making it unstable? There’s always a question which is unknown. I don’t get my K2 from nattokinase, it’s got good blood thinning properties though I think.