POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Nutrition & HIV => Topic started by: Jeffreyj on August 06, 2010, 12:29:49 am
-
A friend asked me if I was taking vitamen K-2. Never heard of it.
There is k-1, k-2, k-3, He told me K-2 is the best one to take.
Has anyone taken this?
-
According to my top-secret source of information in these matters (wikipedia) there's wisdom behind the traditional practice of putting a bit of parsley in everything: parsley contains huge amounts of vitamin K, although it's mainly K1. So do lots of other green vegetables, though, so if you're getting decent amounts of greens you're almost certainly getting enough K1. K2 is found in eggs, meat, and dairy--and natto, but mostly we produce our own. Wikipedia says:
Vitamin K2 (menaquinone, menatetrenone) is normally produced by bacteria in the large intestine,[2] and dietary deficiency is extremely rare unless the intestines are heavily damaged, are unable to absorb the molecule, or are subject to decreased production by normal flora, as seen in broad spectrum antibiotic use.[3
However, HIV is known for disrupting the absorption of nutrients, so this might be an issue.
Wikipedia again:
Other populations with an increased prevalence of vitamin K deficiency include individuals who suffer from liver damage or disease (e.g. alcoholics), people with cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel diseases or those who have recently had abdominal surgeries. Groups that may suffer from secondary vitamin K deficiency include bulimics, those on stringent diets, and those taking anticoagulants. Other drugs that have been associated with vitamin K deficiency include salicylates, barbiturates, and cefamandole, although the mechanism is still unknown. There is no difference between the sexes as both males and females are affected equally. Symptoms of deficiency include heavy menstrual bleeding in women, anemia, bruising, and bleeding of the gums or nose.
And finally:
Osteoporosis[19][20] and coronary heart disease[21][22] are strongly associated with lower levels of K2 (menaquinone). Menaquinone is not inhibited by salicylates as happens with K1, so menaquinone supplementation can alleviate the chronic vitamin K deficiency caused by long term aspirin use.
Notice aspirin, antibiotics, and numbers of other drugs seem to be implicated in K deficiency, as is liver damage; and how osteoporosis is a result. These could be reasons why it would be of concern to HIVers. What reason did your friend give?
By the way, the wiki pages for Natto gives a slightly different distribution of sources for K1 and K2:
Nattō contains large amounts of vitamin K, which is involved in the formation of calcium-binding groups in proteins, assisting the formation of bone and preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin K1 is found naturally in seaweed, liver, and some vegetables, while vitamin K2 is found in fermented food products such as cheese and miso. Nattō has very large amounts of vitamin K2, approximately 870 micrograms per 100 grams of nattō.
-
http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-k/
There seems to be a huge benefit with vitamin K-2 espcially good for fighting heart disease and cancer.
I can't take satins right now, so I'm desperate to help my Heart! Dr. Merola is highly respected, and is often ahead of the curve for the past two years I've been getting his newsletter.
With my deficiency of vitamin D I have been paying more attention to supplements.
-
It was through Mercola I learned about vitamin D but I think some of what he proclaims is utter nonsense, e.g. vaccinations and HAART drugs are poison.