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Vitamin K2 Dosage

Mitziecat profile image
12 Replies

Hi

Please can I get some guidance on the amount of daily vit k dosage that you all take. I have been on Adcal for 5 months but have not taken Vitamin K. I have been advised to take AA due to being diagnosed with osteopenia in the lumbar spine and osteoporosis in one hip. I took it for a year when I was on steroid treatment but came off of it 9 months ago.

I have now bought some Vitamin k2 tablets (50ug) but confused as to what the dosage is equivalent to. I feel as though I am taking so many supplements at the moment. I would be interested to hear what others are taking.

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12 Replies
Met00 profile image
Met00

I take 200mcg of K2-MK7 daily, but also taking high dose Vit D.

Mitziecat profile image
Mitziecat in reply to Met00

Thank you for your reply. I bought a 50ug dose and it recommended one tablet a day. Will see how that goes for now.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

The only "official" recommendation I've come across is Australia suggests 180 mcg per day. I take two 100 mcg capsules. I think it is hard to overdose on this particular fat soluble vitamin, fortunately. There is, however, a difference between mk4 and mk7, either or both of which may be found in supplements. I think all of us are referring to mk7 in this thread so far.

Mitziecat profile image
Mitziecat in reply to HeronNS

Sorry for the late reply and thank you for responding. What would your 100 mcg equate to in the ug measurement as the supplement I have bought is 50 ug and recommend one a day.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Mitziecat

I think it's just a different way of writing the same thing. Micrograms. My 100 mcg are recommended one a day also. But the Australian guideline I've heard about suggests 180 micrograms. So you are surely safe to take more than the minimum recommendation.

The only caveat is people on warfarin type blood thiinner need to check with their doctor. My understanding is that K2 doesn't have the same effect as K1 on blood clotting, but caution would be advisable.

I do not think it likely that with these types of doses we will get too much Vitamin K2.

Good article for the basics:

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

elaine2447 profile image
elaine2447

I don't understand why you would be prescribed bisphosphonates if you have osteopenia, particularly as you have stopped taking steroids. As for Adcal, I would ditch that if it were me as it's cheap carbonate, so basically chalk. Get a decent calcium supplement and vitamin D if you need that. There are two types of Vitamin K2 on the market Mk4 and Mk7. There is always debate which is the better. I found a supplement that has K1, and both the K2's.

Mitziecat profile image
Mitziecat in reply to elaine2447

Hi. I have osteopenia in my spine and left hip but Osteoporosis in the right hip. My doctor calculated the risk factor and because I am post menopausal, steroids & a previous fracture, I was assessed as high risk.

My argument was I had the fracture 24 years ago after a nasty fall and I was only on the minimal steroid dose When the recent scan was done. I took the Bisphosphonates for the first year of treatment. I wanted to try natural methods in this instance as I didn’t like taking the bone medication.

elaine2447 profile image
elaine2447 in reply to Mitziecat

I'm sorry to hear that. If it were me I certainly wouldnt take any more bisphosphonates they do more harm than good. Sadly I have severe osteoporosis in spine and femoral neck, plus the complication of primary hyperparathryoidism, ignored by useless endo of course, so I must take calcium supplements or it then causes high blood calcium, damned if I do, damned if I dont. However, there is no way I would ever consider bisphosphonates or Prolia. I bought a low intensity vibrating plate which was created specifically for osteoporosis and stand on that twice a day for 10 minutes, try to keep active and take other supplements like magnesium, vits, boron and k1, k2 mk4 and mk7 which is a combined K supplement from Germany via Amazon. Vitamin D I have to be careful of too because that can upset the parathryoid which then churns out more parathryoid hormone resulting in more calcium coming from the bones and into the blood. I'm a walking disaster, have Hashimotos thyroiditis so am an anxious wreck and now trying to self medicate very slowly on T3.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

Re the two main types of Vitamin K2, The form we naturally get from animal products like grass fed beef, dairy products, is MK-4. I think you see much larger dosages suggested for this form. The MK-7 is what comes from fermented foods like the fermented soy, called natto, which is the source for most Vitamin K2 supplements. They are metabolised differently, at different speeds, in the body. But they both work to direct calcium to the bones so have a good effect to avoid problems which can occur with calcium supplements.

jamr profile image
jamr

I get my K2 MK7 from natto - fermented soybeans, you get around 350micrograms per 46g serve, I eat these every 3 days. This is readily available from Asian supermarkets in convenient packs. Some people do not like the taste and smell but I have no issue with it. MK4 foods are pasture fed eggs, goose/chicken liver, grass/pasture fed beef, butter etc. K2 directs calcium to bones, not kidneys and blood vessels. It looks like 150micrograms/day is enough, does not seem to be upper limit but as a fat soluble Vit you do not need to take it each day. Have a look at K2 and the Calcium Paradox book, written by Kate Rhéaume-Bleue

See this thread for more

healthunlocked.com/boneheal...

If you follow these you should be Oh Kay too.

Suzyqu profile image
Suzyqu

I've been taking 75ug vit K2-MK7 a day along with 500mg Calcichew with vit D, and Alendronic Acid (weekly) to offset the bone density loss side effect of Anastrozole after breast cancer. I've just dropped to taking K2

every 2 or 3 days instead as my nails have become very fragile and flaking (they've never been strong but had been better until 3 months ago) so wondering if the K2 is causing this by sending all the calcium to my bones!

Mitziecat profile image
Mitziecat in reply to Suzyqu

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated. It is very difficult to know exactly what should be taken and how much. I think the supplements help but have to be aware that it might raise some other issues.

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