Dear Dr. Roach: I was diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis many years ago. I started taking Vitamin K2 because I read it as helping to transfer calcium from the blood to the bones. Fast forward to last year, my doctor had me do a scan to check for arterial plaque as my total cholesterol exceeded 300 mmol/L. I had rejected her recommendation to take prescription medication. The calcium score on the scan has returned to 0%.
My question is that vitamin K2 can be held responsible for my clear arteries. If so, why wouldn’t doctors recommend K2 first, rather than jumping to the statin script?
– DD
Dear DD: Vitamin K2 is widely used in Japan, but research in the US has no advantage. So I don’t recommend K2.
Vitamin K2 is required for the production of a protein called osteocalcin, which binds to hydroxyapatite, a mineral component of bone. Our gut bacteria make vitamin K2 in our gut and use vitamin K1, which is found in dark, lush greenery, as a precursor. I think Vitamin K2 may be useful for bone health for people whose microbiota is not producing K2 well or who have a low diet with K1.
This is not the case for most North Americans. K2 may have other roles in calcium metabolism that are not well understood. In particular, K2 may have an activating effect of matrix GLA proteins. This may reduce calcium deposition on the arterial wall. This is measured during the calcium score test. Therefore, there is a reasonable theory as to why K2 reduces the risk of vascular calcification. This is related to arterial occlusion to the heart (not complete).
In contrast, data on statin drugs are well-established, and there are many studies showing that statin drugs reduce the risk of heart attacks and death. There is a wealth of data showing how much risk can be reduced with statins. It remains to be seen whether K2 will lead to better results.
Some people and doctors may choose to adopt or recommend K2 before strong data, but I am probably a very conservative doctor who is waiting for good data before creating recommendations, despite being safe.
Dear Dr. Roach: My neighborhood has many free peacocks and have had them for many years. Of course, there are many dogs and cats. A few years ago we had a rat plague. Rats appear to be less in all cats than they are now.
What is the risk of bird flu? Should we be careful not to sign it for ourselves and our pets?
– DF
Dear DF: Unfortunately, Peafoul (Peacock and Peahen) can contract avian flu. A few days before writing, ducks, chickens and Piafowl’s backyard had to be euthanized by Connecticut officials.
If possible, keep the peacocks away from wild migratory birds (especially waterfowl) that may spread them into peacock flocks. Stay away from birds that look like disease. While communication to humans is unlikely, many states, including yours, have state bird hotlines that call if they see a sick or dead bird.Readers can email questions to Toyourgoodhealth@med.cornell.edu.
