Further advice please

[Urtica]

Hi, I posted about a month ago regarding Vits K2 and D3 as I have decided not to have any more Alendronoc Acid or infusions. My scan shows some osteoporosis and some osteopenia.

I have been on pred for 2.5 years (PMR) starting at 15mg and slowly reducing to 1mg and taking a daily chewable Adcal-D3.

I purchased VitD3 (which I have not taken) and VitK2 which I discovered also included D3 so I have been taking Adcal-D3 and one tablet of VitK2 /D3 for a month. As I have nearly run out I intended to just buy VitK2 (without the added vitD3). I then realised that the Adcal already had D3! So iI went to the local pharmacist to ask him to check my dosages.

He was a mature man who said he had supplied many Adcal tablets but no one ever had asked for vit K2. I told him it helped to absorb the calcium and send it to the correct place but he looked at me as if I was a mad woman! He said I didn’t need it.

So, do I take the Adcal-D3 and try to buy just the K2? Or do I even need the K2 as he implied?

Thanks in advance.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Have a look at this post - may help - or just type in K2 into search box.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Urtica in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Urtica]

Just to say I still take Adcal -3 prescribed by GP although off Pred - and VitK2 - 100mcg dose daily.

[Urtica in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks again. Is it Adcal-D3?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Urtica]

Yes - chewable.

[Koalajane]

Yes take the adcal D3 and get k2 as well

[palewolf in reply to Koalajane]

I take K2 but not sure how much I should be taking. At the moment I take 180ug a day - is this enough?

[Urtica in reply to palewolf]

I shall go online and try to find out more about dosage.

[palewolf in reply to Urtica]

Thank you.

[Urtica in reply to Koalajane]

Thanks .

[SheffieldJane]

I take it because of its proven role in assisting the absorption of Calcium thereby protecting the bones. It is also found to have a role in preventing the calcification of arteries thereby protecting the heart. Studies have shown that it may also have a role in preventing some chronic diseases. Populations such as the Japanese who eat a lot of fermented foods ( rich in K2) have borne this out in comparative studies.

I can imagine my doctor reacting similarly if I brought it up though. There are plenty of reputable articles on line if you google.

[Urtica in reply to SheffieldJane]

I can't find anywhere where it recommends dosage?

[Blearyeyed in reply to Urtica]

The 100mcg that Dorset Lady takes is the doseage amount of K2 recommended by a number of different sources.

[SheffieldJane]

My capsules are described as high strength (90hg) upside down h.

It is recommended that you take one or two capsules a day with food on the bottle. The make is Nature’s Best. Or you could eat Sauerkraut.

[Urtica in reply to SheffieldJane]

That is very useful, thanks. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I don't want to overdose !

[Hidden in reply to Urtica]

I use a spray. That doesn't help dose wise 😉....3 sprays inside mouth a day.

[SheffieldJane]

No it does say don’t exceed the dose. Sorry I couldn’t find the upside down h for the chemical symbol which is pretty meaningless to me anyway. 🙂

[scats in reply to SheffieldJane]

The upside down h is pronounced mew. It is a measure mg is miligrams the other is micrograms and is one millionth of a gram. So not very much at all!

[HeronNS in reply to SheffieldJane]

I use mcg which means the same thing - don't know where to find Greek letters on my keyboard!

[HeronNS]

You need Vitamin K2, unless you are eating plenty of food containing it. As the average Western diet is now deficient in K2 a supplement is a good idea. Don't be surprised when doctors and pharmacists don't know about K2. They think it's the same as K1 (it isn't) which we get plenty of in our diet if we eat leafy greens. When I first found out about it my daughter was a fairly newly minted registered dietitian and she knew nothing about it until I told her about it.

[Urtica in reply to HeronNS]

So no extra D3 ? I shall look to buy K2 and keep on taking Adcal-D3 as well.

Thanks to everyone for clarification.

[HeronNS in reply to Urtica]

Australian RDA for K2 is 180 mcg per day. I take two 100 mcg capsules. I don't think you need to be concerned about overdose at these levels.

Standard dosage for Vitamin D is 1000 IU per day, but 2000 is often recommended especially when we are taking pred. I understand that as much as 4000 is safe for most people. It is probably a good idea to have your D level checked at some point. There is really no way to say whether you need more, or less, or whether your levels are optimum, without a test.

[Urtica in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks for extra info.

[Blearyeyed in reply to HeronNS]

Yes, absolutely spot on !

[Pippah45]

Has your D3 (or K2) been measured in a blood test? I ask because a lot of us can be deficient without knowing especially people with auto-immune diseases. My GP will test for it. My daughter is VERY low despite supplementing and working outside all day every day so has just upped her dose by quite a bit.

[Urtica in reply to Pippah45]

Not sure. I had bloods done a few week’s ago as I was extremely tired etc. Doc said he would test everything - liver, kidneys, thyroid but no news is good news he said. I did phone surgery to double check that they had got results but no details of exactly what they tested for. I am now waiting for appointment for a sleep apnoea test!

[Pippah45 in reply to Urtica]

I would chase them up - I take advantage of my entitlement to have my results and over the years it has paid dividends sharing with people who know more than me - and has led to much better treatment for me particularly with the thyroid. Thyroid treatment is in a strange place at the moment with many professionals having different opinions on what is good and where in the range things should be. I now understand most measurements that I have tests for.

[Urtica in reply to Pippah45]

Good idea I shall contact surgery next week . Thanks

[Daffodilia]

Why don’t you just take the Adcal? I think it gave me constipation but I eat prunes most days which helps

[Urtica in reply to Daffodilia]

I eat prunes too although I can’t remember what they have in which is good for you! I understand VitK2 helps the calcium be absorbed by the bones instead of artery walls.

[Daffodilia in reply to Urtica]

Oh right - I thought the Alendronic acid and vit D helped to absorb the calcium but you say you dont take alendronic acid? Prunes have lots of fibre which helps with constipation from calcium tablet (or steroids)

[HeronNS in reply to Urtica]

Prunes are a good source of boron.

[Lonsdalelass]

Hi Urtica. I stopped the AdcalD3, on the advice of my doctor, as it was giving me heartburn. My doctor, going through my diet with me, was happy that I was getting enough calcium. A blood test (that I asked for!) confirmed it. So now I just take D3 and K2 (both sprays) each morning. Incidentally, a friend of mine going through cancer has been handed AdcalD3 every time she sees the Dr. She has never taken them as she can't stand them, and has regular bloods checked for calcium levels, each time told they are perfect! And the Dr's don't know she's not been taking it! Like me she also has D3 in a spray to make sure she is getting enough as our bodies of course can't store that. All the best. X

[Urtica in reply to Lonsdalelass]

I seem to have no problem taking Adcal-D3. As for diet, I don’t drink milk in tea or coffee or on its own so not sure if my diet is high enough in calcium. I am due for a Dexa scan next Feb so will have more of an idea how my bones are doing.

[rocketman42]

In addition, from my research and the input from HeronNS, I would suggest looking for K-2 in the form of MK-7 rather than MK-4. It appears to be the more valuable form to take.

[Urtica in reply to rocketman42]

Thanks, I have ordered the K2 Mk-7. Still not sure whether I should take the D3 capsules as well (which I bought a few weeks ago) as I get it with the Adcal-D3?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Urtica]

I take both - the basic 800IU I get from 2 tablets AcCal is barely enough to maintain my blood vit D level, without that it just falls steadily.

[Urtica in reply to PMRpro]

I think I definitely need to get my levels checked to find out best dosage . I have only ever taken one Adcal a day.. Thanks for your reply.

[Sheilamac]

I get my vitK2 in a Health shop.

[Marcy47]

I purchase my Vit. K2 on-line from Healthspan. I only have to take one a day. I have been told not to take Calcium and D3 by my endocrinologist as I have hyperparathyroidism and have too much calcium in my blood. The Vit. K2 helps to lower the level in my blood and sends it to the bones.

[Urtica in reply to Marcy47]

Thanks for your reply . I have had an over active thyroid four times in the past 50 years but latest blood test was normal. GP has never mentioned extra calcium but it is something for me to be aware of.