Vitamin K May Support Bone Health in Children

Harry Hirsute · � #1 � 03-05-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Published online at the British Journal of Nutrition link, the researchers followed 307 healthy children, with an average age of 11.2 years, over a two year period and measured skeletal bone mineral content. They found improved status of the K vitamins over the two year period resulted in better mineral content and improved bone mass of the whole body.

According to the lead author, Marieke Summeren, Ph.D., "As children grow the increase in bone mass may fail to keep up with the increase in height, or length of the bone, and as a consequence, this imbalance may result in fracture." She continued, "But the main threat of a long-term shortage of K vitamins is that peak bone mass may be compromised, and as we age and begin to lose bone density, the risk of fracture in later life is increased."

Study author Leon J. Schurgers,Ph.D.commented, "Numerous population studies and interventional trials have established the consumption of K vitamins to bone strength, structure and the reduction of the risk of fracture. This is due to the need to activate the vitamin K-dependent protein osteocalcin, which is essential for the body to utilize calcium in a healthy bone tissue. Unfortunately, most people, including children, are likely deficient in the K vitamins related to the need for bone health."

This is among the first studies linking K vitamins to bone health in children. Vitamin K status was evaluated by measured by the amount of active osteocalcin to inactive osteocalcin. Without adequate vitamin K, the osteocalcin remains inactive, and thus not effective. Previous research has evaluated vitamin K status in children and found that they have inadequate K vitamins consumption to fully activate osteocalcin.

"There are two types of vitamin K from dietary sources. Vitamin K1 is found in leafy green vegetables, and Vitamin K2, also called menaquinones, are predominately found in fermented cheeses, curd, and the fermented soy called natto," stated Schurgers.

"Vitamin K1 is mostly used by the liver where it is involved in the synthesis of certain blood clotting factors. Vitamin K2 is also equally active outside the liver, in tissues including bone. Thus it is important to have good sources of both types of vitamin K!"

The recommended intakes of vitamin K today are based solely on coagulation. However, K vitamins are also necessary for the activation of osteocalcin, a protein necessary to transport calcium from the blood to form healthy bone matrix. Also, K vitamins are needed to activate matrix GLA protein (MGP), the most potent inhibitor of vascular calcification known. In essence, K vitamins are necessary to keep calcium in your bones and out of your arteries.

https://www.npicenter.com/anm/templat...0712&zoneid=28

Xania · � #2 � 03-05-2008, 01:30 PM

This is yet another of Harry's posts which could significantly effect the health of husband and me. Husband needs calcium to go back into his bones, and I shoud like to keep it out of my arteries.

Thanks, Gem!

Harry Hirsute · � #3 � 03-05-2008, 01:51 PM

Xania,

Please keep us posted on your husband's bone-health. I've got my mom on as many bone-building/sparring supplements as she's willing to take. For the time being, I've convinced her to forgo any medication ... though her doc is certainly pushing the "bone-building" meds.

Perhaps we can compare notes as we (hopefully) find positive results.

Xania · � #4 � 03-05-2008, 02:14 PM

Harry, D has just started to take alendronate, as his bone condition is bad, and even I don't want to discourage him.
He is taking calcium and Vit D Supplements, and as many calcium containing foods as he can squeeze in. That's not a lot - his spinal curve means that there is not much space to accomodate his lungs and stomach, but at least he has stopped losing weight. He even accompanied me to the supermarket yesterday. He is despondent because he is unable to help with loading and unloading the car, after a re-stocking run so he feels himself to be burdening me with chores he used to do. I wish I knew how to boost his feeling of worth.
What can I do - say - that would let him know that he is needed and is an equal in the partnership?
That's what I need help with right now.

Xania · � #5 � 03-05-2008, 02:19 PM

Of course, I shall be happy to share notes with you, as they occur.

One thing I could mention, which we found out too late to help D, - If your mother should suffer a vertebral fracture, a surgical repair can be successful, if done within a week of fracture. Longer than that, and it's too late. An orthopedic surgeon showed us D's fractures on the MRI and said that, now, he can repair that damage with cement. It reduces the spinal curve and gives almost immediate relief of pain.
D's fractures happened about a year ago

scorpiotiger · � #6 � 03-05-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xania

Harry, D has just started to take alendronate, as his bone condition is bad, and even I don't want to discourage him.
He is taking calcium and Vit D Supplements, and as many calcium containing foods as he can squeeze in. That's not a lot - his spinal curve means that there is not much space to accomodate his lungs and stomach, but at least he has stopped losing weight. He even accompanied me to the supermarket yesterday. He is despondent because he is unable to help with loading and unloading the car, after a re-stocking run so he feels himself to be burdening me with chores he used to do. I wish I knew how to boost his feeling of worth.
What can I do - say - that would let him know that he is needed and is an equal in the partnership?
That's what I need help with right now.

Xania, what about paperwork? can he help with.. say budgeting? preparing for taxes? research into acupuncture to help you? does he use the computer at all?

Harry Hirsute · � #7 � 03-05-2008, 03:52 PM

Xania,

I'll share with you everything my mom is taking - in the hope of increasing her bone-density.

I wish I knew how to effectively restore D's sense of self-worth. I can think of a few things, that I hope might be worthwhile suggestions ... but keep in mind that this is not my strong-suit.

First of all, I think it's important that he be made aware (if he's unaware) about all that he does contribute to your life. Our mates often times don't fully grasp (myself included) how much they mean to us. And why they mean so much to us. So, making sure that he grasps his actual worth, to you, seems vital.

Also, can you think of some new ways that D could help you with your daily tasks? I'm thinking specifically of things that he didn't used to do.

For instance, instead of helping with the more physical work ... perhaps he could help with some other work ... like taking care of the monthly bills, record-keeping, making the market-list, etc.

I'm not sure what he'd be comfortable/capable of doing but perhaps there are things that he could help with and perhaps that would help him to feel more useful?

I often do the laundry, wash the dishes, make the market-list, etc. These are often thought of as wifely-duties but they needn't be. In my mind, it's a matter of teamwork. We each pitch-in as is necessary.

Another idea might be for him to get involved with something more intellectual. Maybe he could mentor someone or take some Internet-based university courses.

My father recently retired. He's now taking a few anatomy courses at a local college and helping my mom with more of the household duties. This makes him feel better.

One last note, on the psychological/spiritual front. Both my mom and my wife have a very difficult time taking nutritional supplements. So, I regularly thank them for making the effort to take what I suggest.

Maybe that sounds odd but, the way I see it is that, they're making an effort to fight for their good health. It is an effort. A struggle. And they wage it every day. And they do it, in part, because they want to be here for all their loved one - including me.

So, maybe D needs to understand that all the efforts he's making (to regain his health) are efforts, in part, made on your behalf. It may be a different way of looking at a situation that has a more realistic and positive spin to it.

Oh, one more thing ... since prostate cancer is so common ... perhaps there are some local support groups (or online support groups) that might help his mindset? I'm certain that many, many men struggle with these issues. It's possible that being able to communicate with such men might help.

And now for an area that I'm more comfortable with

... supplements.

I advise my mom to take:

1. boron (3 mg)

2. Biosil (10 drops)

3. magnesium (800 mg - she takes part of it in the form of a liquid calcium/magnesium citrate, with added D)

4. a multivitamin mineral plus extra vitamin C

5. spruce lignans (good for both men and women)

6. vitamins D & K2 (about 2,500 IU of D and 90 mcg of K2)

7. OBP - https://www.aor.ca/int/related_research/obp.php

8. pomegranate - this may be gender specific ... though it's likely good for the prostate and much more

Stay strong!

Xania · � #8 � 03-06-2008, 01:59 PM

Harry and Scorpiotiger, I do appreciate your responses to my post about husband's self-worth. I think I can do better from now on, on that level, anyway!

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