Guest guest Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 > " HSI - Jenny Thompson " > <HSIResearch > The Secret Life of K > Thu, 07 Oct 2004 09:53:11 -0400 > > The Secret Life of K > > Health Sciences Institute e-Alert > > October 07, 2004 > > > Dear Reader, > > Well over four million Americans have hepatitis C, > the most > common chronic blood-borne infection in the U.S. In > fact, former > Surgeon General C. Everett Koop calls it an even > graver threat to > our public health than HIV and AIDS. > > But it's not just the staggering numbers behind this > disease that > make it so frightening; it can also be deadly, > because hepatitis C > sharply increases the risk of developing viral > cirrhosis (a > debilitating liver disease) and liver cancer. > > Now a new study reveals that an increased intake of > one vitamin > may significantly help prevent liver cancer in > patients with > cirrhosis. > > --------------------------- > Hidden protection > --------------------------- > > When researchers in the Graduate School of Medicine > of Japan's > Osaka City University began their study of vitamin K > use among > women with cirrhosis of the liver, their goal was to > evaluate > potential advantages in using vitamin K to prevent > bone loss. But > the final analysis of data reaped an unexpected > benefit, as reported > in a recent issue of the Journal of the American > Medical > Association. > > The Osaka team recruited a group of 40 women with > viral > cirrhosis. Most of the subjects also had hepatitis > C. The average > age for the group was about 60. For two years, 21 > subjects took a > daily 45 mg dose of vitamin K2. The other 19 women > took a > placebo. Of the women in the K2 group, only two > developed liver > cancer, while nine of the women in the placebo group > developed > cancer. > > Larger studies will be needed to confirm any liver > cancer > preventive benefits of vitamin K2, but because of > the length of the > study, the researchers feel confident that K2 > supplements may > reduce the risk of liver cancer by as much as 20 > percent in patients > with viral cirrhosis. > > The study also found that vitamin K2 supplementation > helped > prevent bone loss in women with cirrhosis of the > liver. > > --------------------------- > Plenty of benefits > --------------------------- > > " Do we really need to take a vitamin K supplement? " > > Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., posed that question in his > Nutrition & > Healing newsletter, and provided this answer: " If > there's a family > history of osteoporosis, definitely. There's also > enough preliminary > evidence to say that if there's a family history of > arteriosclerosis > ('hardening of the arteries'), you probably should. " > > > When I asked HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., about > vitamin K, > he told me that K intake also provides another kind > of protection: > " An old study from the late '40s showed that vitamin > K was > clearly helpful against tooth decay. But the biggest > news more > recently has been concerning vitamin K as a strong > bone-builder. It > seems to not only help with poorly healing > fractures, but at the > same time helps prevent excess calcium from getting > deposited in > arterial walls. > > " The plant-based source of vitamin K (K1, or > phylloquinone) > seems to have no toxic effects in most any > reasonable dose. But the > synthetic form (K3, or menadione) has caused some > liver toxicity > and, rarely, a form of anemia when taken in high > doses. There's > also K2 (or menaquinones), but K1 and K2 are fine. > As usual, it > seems best to avoid synthetic forms, if possible. If > the individual is > on coumadin (blood thinner), he needs to talk with > his doctor, as > vitamin K can interfere with its effect. " > > Dr. Wright agrees that vitamins K1 and K2 are " very > safe, " and > recommends 5 to 15 mg per day. Note that the K2 > dosage in the > Osaka study was quite higher than that. > Nevertheless, the > supplement was well tolerated by the Osaka subjects. > > > --------------------------- > In the garden > --------------------------- > > As for dietary sources of vitamin K, Dr. Spreen > tells me that dark, > leafy green vegetables, such as kale and carrot > tops, are the best for > vitamin K1. " The highest amounts of it are in > chestnut leaves and > fish meal. Spinach leaves, cabbage leaves and > cauliflower are also > right up there. " > > In addition to those sources, broccoli, Brussels > sprouts, endive, and > lettuce are also abundant in vitamin K1, as are > olive oil and > avocados. Vitamin K1 is converted into K2 in the > intestine, but we > get some amount of K2 in meat, liver and egg yolk, > and fermented > products such as yogurt and cheese. And these > sources reveal the > basic difference between K1 and K2; K1 comes from > plant > sources, and K2 from animal sources. > > So if you enjoy a spinach, avocado and cheese salad > with an olive > oil dressing, by all means, indulge often and you'll > be treating > yourself to a variety of vitamin K benefits. > > ************************************************************** > > ...and another thing > > If you've ever had a hospital stay that made you > feel like you were > stranded on a desert island while waiting for > information on your > status, then you might enjoy this item, sent in by > an HSI member: > > A woman called a local hospital. " Hello. Could you > connect me to > the person who gives information about patients? I'd > like to find > out if a patient is getting better, doing as > expected, or getting > worse. " > > The voice on the other end said, " What is the > patient's name and > room number? " > > " Sarah Finkel, room 302. " > > " I'll connect you with the nursing station. " > > " 3-A Nursing Station. How can I help you? " > > " I'd like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel in > room 302. " > > " Just a moment. Let me look at her records. Mrs. > Finkel is doing > very well. In fact, she's had two full meals, her > blood pressure is > fine, she is to be taken off the heart monitor in a > couple of hours > and, if she continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is > going to send > her home Tuesday at noon. " > > The woman said, " What a relief! Oh, that's > fantastic... that's > wonderful news! " > > The nurse said, " From your enthusiasm, I take it you > are a family > member or a very close friend? " > > " Neither! I'm Sarah Finkel in 302. Nobody here tells > me > anything! " > > To Your Good Health, > > Jenny Thompson > Health Sciences Institute > > ************************************************************** > > Sources: > " Role of Vitamin K2 in the Development of > Hepatocellular > Carcinoma in Women with Viral Cirrhosis of the > Liver " Journal of > the American Medical Association, Vol. 292, No. 3, > 7/21/04, > jama.ama-assn.org > " Vitamin K Might Prevent Liver Cancer " Serena > Gordon, > HealthDayNews, 7/20/04, healthfinder.gov > " Vitamin K Found to Protect Against Liver Cancer " > NutraIngredients.com, 7/21/04, nutraingredients.com > " Vitamin K: What's it good for? " Jonathan V. Wright, > M.D., > Nutrition & Healing, Vol. 7, No. 7, July 2000, > wrightnewsletter.com > > Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, > L.L.C. > The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites > without > written permission. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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