Vitamin d and k2

[Aihpos]

Hi can anyone tell me if vitamin d3 and k2 can help as I’m on hrt patches and I need to come off soon and am worried about arthritis as it runs in the family and I’m 48 years old.

Now I’m soon to start warfirin and need to protect my bones..

[KellyInTexas Administrator]

Hello Aihpos,

Vitamin D 3 is important, yes.

K2 I’m not familiar with, but it will affect your INR. The idea is to adjust the warfarin to your current diet- so eat exactly what you want now- before you start warfarin... but keep it extremely steady with regards to the k value in your diet.

If you want it in your diet, ( and I’m all for it , I think the more variety of minerals/ vitamins we naturally can have the better as long as your doctor agrees with the plan) the better. It’s about natural balance.

My OBGYN ordered a bone density scan when I was first diagnosed to get a base line. I was 47/ 48.

Ask your hematologist just what the risks are of warfarin and osteoporosis. Also ask about LMWH, should you find for some reason it suits you better than warfarin.

Heparin is not good for osteoporosis, but the newer LMWH has hardly any risks- but find out the exact percentages.

HollyHesky here, our other Admin can very likely give expert stats here on this subject. I know very little about this. ( just the bare basics.)

Regarding Vitamin D3 you asked about- I suggest you ask your rheumatologist to check your level. Also, we tend to be low in iron, folate, and B12. Have those levels checked as well.

If you are low in folic acid, it’s best to supplement with a methylated folic acid. ( per my hematologist. Otherwise the body cannot use it correctly.)

And a reminder- always check the thyroid with an APS diagnosis. We tend to be low.

[Aihpos in reply to KellyInTexas]

Thankyou for your help every little advice helps🙏

[HollyHeski Administrator]

Hi, like Kelly, I've not heard much about K2, do I have done some research.

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

My main concern with this one would be the interaction with your warfarin. Please ask your clinic about this before starting, they may suggest starting at same time, do they can monitor your INR levels or they may prefer to leave until settled on your warfarin.

Regarding D3, I was prescribed calcichew D3 forte chewable tablets x 2 daily, once I was diagnosed with APS, as this was 10 years after my hysterectomy and I was to start clexane.

Warfarin is still the best anticogeration for APS, with minimal side effects, unfortunately I was unable to take it. Clexane also increases the risk of osteoporosis, I have to have dexter scan every couple of years to check bone density.

If you can talk through this with your APS specialist.

[Aihpos in reply to HollyHeski]

Ok will have see what they say at the anticoagulant clinic when I start the warfirin.

Thankyou

[Ray46]

K2 is contraindicated on warfarin, any K is. You can, on doctors' advice, take it and adjust the warfarin dose to compensate, for some people this can help stabilize INR. What it won't do is put any more K in your blood - warfarin works by reducing it. You are going to be K-deficient now, by design.

There isn't a lot of info on effects of K2 specifically, but I have seen it stated that it is worse for messing up INR than K1, not sure which K2 that was for (there is more than one variant).

I know that there are many recommendations to take K or K2 with D to make sure it has the desired effect and goes into the bones rather than the artery walls (where we don't want it), but that really isn't possible to do warfarin.

[Jumper99]

Vitamin K1 is responsible for part of the clotting cascade which causes our blood to clot. Warfarin acts on vitamin K to reduce the amount of vitamin K available for clotting therefore making us less likely to clot. It was at one time thought that therefore vitamin K2 (there are 4 different types of vitamin K overall) might be ok for warfarin users as it is indeed useful for bones which people with osteoporosis really need. But the latest I can find on it says that all vitamin K can affect your warfarin levels and therefore K2 should not be used for supplementation either.

Have you had a dexa scan to check for osteoporosis? Arthritis, unless inflammatory, I think does not cause osteoporosis. Vitamin K2 can help with rheumatoid arthritis but I’ve not seen it mentioned as a help with other arthritis.

But this is a good area for you to discuss with your consultant. From an APS point of view warfarin is the safest drug to stop us from getting more clots in the future so you should stay on it and not take vitamin k supplements. If your bones are at very serious risk and your consultant thinks you definitely need more vitamin K then they might think about a different anticoagulant. This seems unlikely as they have put you on warfarin.

Also if you have APS you should not be on HRT as this increases your chances of clotting, unless you have a special reason why your consultant has allowed you to take it.

innovixlabs.com/blogs/insig...

[Aihpos in reply to Jumper99]

Hi thanx for the information.

Will try to ask as much as possible.

I was in hrt for some years now as I mad my ovaries removed at 41.

I have now switched to the patches as these don’t make the blood sticky.

Although I know it’s a risk I will slowly wean myself off them.

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi some people take K2 with their D3 and Magnesium as it allows a higher dose of vitamin D, apparently, however it is not safe with Warfarin, and any new supplement, must be checked with your GP and Consultant to make sure there are no drug contraindications going on. Also do you have a Hughes Syndrome/APS specialist advising you and your GP this is very very important especially if you are having HRT as it is not normally recommended, most types, although some do have progesterone patches, but again, this must be managed with your blood clotting disease in mind. MaryF

[Aihpos]

Hi no I only just got diagnosed so only have spoken to the heamotoligist and waiting to start warfirin soon

[Hughes-Comrade]

I take fragmin shots. I have aps and Leiden V as well. My blood clot expert was not concerned with k2 as there is so very little. That may not be the same for you. Check with your doc.

[Louloubug]

Hi, vit K of any kind is a NO,NO.

VIT K WILL MAKE U CLOT. VK IS THE REMEDY U TAKE IF INR IS TOO HIGH.

I ALSO HAVE RA AND CURRENTLY NOT ON MEDS. HOWEVER I WAS TAKING HUMARIA INJECTIONS. HAD TO STOP CUZ OF DEBILITATING MIGRAINES.

I'M GOING ON RINVOQ SOON.

VT D3 AND CALCIUM IS MUST FOR OSTEOPOROSIS ARTIST.

WELL I HOPE THAT I HAVE ANSWERED UR QUESTIONS