CPD - SUPPLEMENTATION
GO
TURQUOISE
FOR THE
ELDERLY
The right
vitamins for
15 MAY –
15 JUNE
osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, defi ned by porous bones, is a common problem in Western countries. It
is especially common among elderly women and strongly raises the risk of fractures
O
A 3-year trial in 244 postmenopausal It also plays a role in removing calcium from
women found that those taking vitamin K2 areas where it shouldn’t be, such as in the
is a supplements had much slower decreases in arteries and soft tissues.
common age-related bone mineral density.
steoporosis
disease
characterised
by low bone
strength that results
in an increased risk of
The main function of Vitamin K is to
Lengthy studies on Japanese women activate the calcium-binding properties
have shown similar benefi ts, although they of proteins. K1 is mostly involved in blood
used very high doses. Out of 13 trials, only clotting, while K2 helps regulate where
one failed to show signifi cant improvement. calcium ends up in the body.
Seven of those trials also reported
Vitamin K2 activates the
fracture. In SA, one in fractures and found that vitamin K2 reduced calcium-binding activity of Matrix Gla
three women and one spinal fractures by 60%, hip fractures by protein and osteocalcin, which help to
in fi ve men will develop 77%, and all non-spinal fractures by 81%. build and maintain bones. It also works
osteoporosis.
PREVENT
FRACTURES
Fractures are
associated with serious
clinical consequences,
including long-term
disability, increased
risk of death, and high
healthcare costs.
Early identifi cation
and intervention with
patients at high risk for
fracture is needed to
reduce the burden of
osteoporotic fractures.
The management
of a patient with a
confi rmed diagnosis
of osteoporosis
or low bone mass
(osteopenia) includes
assessment of fracture
synergistically with a number of other
VITAMIN K
Vitamin K2 is rare in the Western diet and
nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D.
Vitamin K1 exclusively participates
hasn’t received much mainstream attention. in blood clotting – its sole purpose.
However, this powerful nutrient plays an K2 on the other hand comes from a
essential role in many aspects of health. whole diff erent set of food sources,
It has been postulated that vitamin K2
and its biological role is to help move
may just be the ‘missing link’ between diet calcium into the proper areas in your body,
and several diseases. such as your bones and teeth.
Vitamin K was discovered in 1929 as an
essential nutrient for blood coagulation. The
initial discovery was reported in a German
scientifi c journal, where it was called
Koagulationsvitamin. That’s where the ‘K’
comes from.
The three types of vitamin K are:
· Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is found
naturally in plants, especially green
vegetables – K1 goes directly to your liver
and helps you maintain healthy blood
clotting.
· Vitamin K2, also called menaquinone,
risk, evaluation for is made by the bacteria that line your
secondary causes gastrointestinal tract – K2 goes straight
of skeletal fragility, to your blood vessel walls, bones, and
making decisions on tissues other than your liver.
HOW MUCH VITAMIN K2
DO YOU NEED?
The optimal amounts of vitamin K2 are
still under investigation, but it seems likely
that 180-200 micrograms of vitamin K2
should be enough to activate the body’s
K2-de pendent proteins to shuttle the
calcium where it needs to be, and remove it
from the places where it shouldn’t.
A Western diet contains as little as
10% of that or less.
A bout 80% of Americans do not get
enough vitamin K2 in their diet to activate
their K2 proteins, which is similar to the
defi ciency rate of vitamin D. Vitamin K2
defi ciency leaves patients vulnerable for
a number of chronic diseases, including:
· Osteoporosis
· Heart disease
initiation of treatment,
· Heart attack and stroke
and identifi cation of all · Vitamin K3, or menadione, is a synthetic relevant clinical factors form not recommended recommend – that may infl uence it’s important to note that toxicity has patient management. occurred in infants injected with this · Brain disease
synthetic vitamin K3. · Cancer
· Inappropriate calcifi cation, from heel
spurs to kidney stones
Continued on next page...
Pharmacy Magazine MAY 2017 |
37