Amen!  I took Lovaza for a year when my physician gave me a coupon for a monthly supply at $5/month for 12 months.  I obviously stopped when it ran out because of the "real" price.  I've started using CardioTabs (http://www.cardiotabs.com/Omega-3-Fish-Oil/productinfo/OMEGA-EC/) instead on the advice of my physician.  Any feedback on this brand?

What is your opinion about Nordic Naturals DHA?  It contains 450 MG DHA and 90 MG EPA, along with 15 IUs of Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) in two soft gels.  I've read in many places that fish oil containing more DHA than EPA is superior.

Even though Obama and his socialists would vehemently disagree, you make a logical point.

I use Spring Valley brand and it costs me about $11 for a two for one deal (two bottles). 200 capsules per bottle 1000 mg each. EPA + DHA is only 300 per capsule but for the price taking 6 per day isn't a problem. Under $12 every 2 months isn't bad.

Hello everybody!

Well, I see this article refer to a matter of price and less about quality.

Dr Davis, please, what do you think about NOW Foods suplements?
Sorry for being offtopic!
Thanks for your blog, your work changed my life.
All the best from Romania!

For maximum absorbability, use liquid not capsules or gels, and eat with a high fat meal.

New research also shows the probiotics in yogurt also help to minimize the oxidation:
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Yogurt-proteins-could-stabilize-omega-3-enrichment

as does pollen spore shells (exines)
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Pollen-spores-could-enhance-omega-3-bioavailability

A good value for omega-3s is Twin Labs:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=TL-1403

Take a look at Trader Joe's odorless omega 3. 90 capsules for less than $9. 1200 mg fish oil 400 mg EPA and 200 mg DHA in each capsule. The only brand I have been able to find with a 2 to 1 ratio of EPA to DHA. And there is no after taste.

I eat omnly grassfed beef and wildcaught salmon. Chicken is pastured. I don't eat grains or vegitable oils. I use coconut oil and tallow for cooking.
That being said, can one get too much Omega 3?

Great point about the cost effecting others. Studies ghave shown that fish oil that is too pure is not as good as fish oil with a little bit of "mother" in it. Clean not sterile.

Huge props to you, Dr. Davis, for admitting regret and posting future accountability by NOT filling scrips for Lovaza.

Hopefully, the husband of that patient reads your blog.  But I doubt it.

Hi Dr. Davis,
Thank you for living your principles, and, as always, for your candid and unvarnished thoughts.
Sincerely,
Tom C

I take 4 of Sam's Club triple-strength fish oil plus a 1 gram Krill Oil from Puritan's Pride.  The omega 3s, ground flax seed, curcumin, and Jean Carper's Super Osteo Gold have allowed me to jog at age 71 without any joint injury.

Assuming no problems with Lp(a) you can reduce the need for so much fish oil by changing your diet to low omega-6 intact.  There is competition between the two essential fats so try to limit foods high in omega-6 first.  Once you've done that you can cut back on all those fish oil capsules. It's probably helpful to take some vitamin E too to prevent potential fatty acid oxidation.

Thanks for not being part of the problem, Dr. Davis.

The thing is, some prescription plans have a copay. If the plan of the couple is like mine, they'd have had a $30 copay. It's possible they were only saving $20 a month. For our friends outside the U.S., that'll buy a movie ticket and popcorn for one person. Nine hundred dollars is more than my mortgage payment.

The real problem is the pharmaceutical industry and not patients who wish for prescriptions or insurance companies. Here in the UK, the last I heard,  Lovaza (marketed under the name Omacor) costs the National Heath Service £50 ($78) per 100 capsules, that is considerably less than what it costs in the US and roughly the same as comparable fish oil omega-3 supplements from health food shops in the UK. This is the pharmaceutical company charging this and it is they who should be brought to account when it comes to over profiteering from patients and insurance companies, imho.

I've started using CardioTabs instead on the advice of my physician. Any feedback on this brand?

Not a very good deal, Anonymous.

Each bottle includes 180 capsules, but a serving size is 3 capsules (to equal 975mg of DHA and EPA). Multiply that serving size by 6 to attain Dr Davis's objective of 6000mg of DHA and EPA per day. This means:
1) You must ingest 18 (!) capsules/day;
2) Each bottle of 180 capsules is a mere 10 days supply; which means
3) 3 bottles/month at a cost of ~$100/month.

Several commenters have asked about specific brands.

Consumer Lab (www.consumerlab.com) is a great place to start to see what brands have been tested.

While it is clear that no mercury, PCBs, dioxin, or furans have been measured in any brand of OTC fish oil (slight contamination of cod liver oil, not fish body oils, with PCBs), there are differences in oxidative breakdown products.

A quick test of oxidation: Smell your fish oil. It should only be faintly fish, not overwhelmingly fishy.

Can you give us some references on why 6,000 epa/dha for lp(a) carriers?

Finding a suitable plaques for our home is little hard to do. Your special taste of art and rare places provide it in best quality sometimes become the challenges to do it. But, because of the importance of the plaques you have to find it whatever it takes.

What about Weston A. Price suggesting that there is a potential for Omega 3 overdosing as well as the concern from contaminants  in fish oil compared to Cod liver oil due to fish oil being mostly from farmed fish? Also the benefits of Vitamin A and D from taking Cod liver oil rather than fish oil.  Personally I don't use cod liver oil, but should I be concerned about too much fish oil? Have there been long term studies?
Thanks

Tommy

This is one of the many reasons for our skyrocketing insurance costs. People need to take more responsibility for their own health. Unfortunatley, this concept is in direct conflict with the prevailing trend in our society.

With the direction our health care industry is going, future costs will become quite prohibitive. In an effort to fight class warfare this new health care system will create a class of those who will be able to afford effective health care while the rest of us who are dependent on the government's version will be left waiting . . . It really is our fault.

What's pathetic about the situation is, if the insurance company would shoulder some of the cost of basic fish oil instead of the prescription Lovaza, everyone in the system would benefit.  The way it is, everyone in the system loses.

I have always used scott emulsion. A couple tbs per day.
is that one good?

Anonymous about insurance paying for supplement fish oil--

Yes, a brilliant idea!

I've had the same idea and wondered why an insurance company didn't just shell out the money to prove for themselves that OTC is every bit as good as the prescription, then encourage their insured to use this instead. It would provide HUGE savings with no downside.

Dr Davis

with the us treasury printing currency by the boatload if everyone operated with cost savings in mind there would be hyperinflation due to excess money floating in the economy. So government channels try to mop up and circulate as much currency as possible and keep the bottlenecks to a minimum.

No wonder usa is looking at a consistent high inflation future or maybe hyperinflationary future.

I wonder about oxidation and possible immune system suppression at the 6 gram dose level. Although I suppose in patients with high Lp(a), it's the lesser of two evils. Emulsified fish oil may be worth trying, to see if it decreases Lp(a) even further.

Eventually Lovaza will go generic, which will be sort of odd, when prescription fish oil potentially could be in the same ballpark as OTC. Not sure how the FDA will make sense of it, unless the dosages are exactly the same... not sure how prescription fish oil ever really made sense really.

Also, don't eat with fiber as this hurts absorption.  

The following are listed in the ConsumerLab.com report, but I'm not a member so don't know how it rates:

Twin Labs Mega EPA ( 1 capsule = Epa 550 Mg, Dha 215 Mg )
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=TL-1403

Nordic Natural Ultimate Omega + CoQ10  ( 2 capsules = Epa 650 Mg, Dha 450mg)
http://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/Products/Product_Details/98/?ProdID=1446

Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil Blend (~139 mg EPA, ~83mg DHA),
http://www.greenpasture.org/retail/?t=products&a=line&i=fermented-cod-liver-oil

Vital Choice Wild Salmon Oil (240 mg EPA, 220 mg DHA)
http://www.vitalchoice.com/product/omega-3-salmon-oil/1000-mg-sockeye-salmon-oil-softgels-180-count

The nordic product also has 60mg of CoQ10, and 30IU of vitamin E!

Dr Davis as a practicing neurosurgeon and age management doc I write for Lovaza all the time.  At least 75 Rx a month.  Does it bother me?  Yes it does.  But I feel better knowing those who are taking it are being proactive and healthy instead of a dog chasing its tail with his or her PCP.  Everything is relative my friend.  I suggest you focus in on the good because their is bad in everything but if you focus in on the good it magnifies itself.  Keep fighting the battle.  I do. I get more patients off Statins and on Fish Oil and resveratrol than you can imagine.  Love your work and the book.  I have saved lives because of you.  you passed it forward and now I do too everyday.  Dr. K

Presumably, the guy has been paying his health care insurance premiums.  Based on the facts you describ, his insurance covers prescriptions for Lovaza.  Why should he have to pay additional money out of pocket to receive a benefit to which he is entitled under his insurance program?

@anonymous who wrote:

"Why should he have to pay additional money out of pocket to receive a benefit to which he is entitled under his insurance program?"

If we focus only on an insured and his contractual rights under his insurance policy, he should not "have to pay additional money out of pocket..."

However, that focus is arguably too narrow as it fails to consider the effect on insurance premiums for the rest of an insurance company's policy holders/payers. This is one of the evils of a system that requires citizens to obtain health insurance - it forces other people to subsidize, to use Dr. Davis's example, an expensive prescription when cheaper and equally effective alternatives exist. This is not an isolated example; consider prescription Vitamin D2 vs. D3 supplementation, etc...

I can appreciate your feelings about writing such a costly perscription.  For years... when my GP would write a perscription for a cheap oc medication I just bought it without submitting the script and having my insurance incur the pharmacists dispensing fee as well as the basic cost of the OC medication. It seemed so ridiculous and costly!
Over the years I realized that my extended benefits cost me about $3,000 out of pocket whether I use them or not.
  I figure I did not create this mess and even though it is silly I don't worry much about the costs to my insurer.
I can see both sides of the situation. The situation is a grey area.
I know that my insurer is in buisness to make a profit and doesn't hesitate to refuse and question claims. I figure that I am in the buisness of making the best of my  personal finances.

I can appreciate your feelings about writing such a costly perscription.  For years... when my GP would write a perscription for a cheap oc medication I just bought it without submitting the script and having my insurance incur the pharmacists dispensing fee as well as the basic cost of the OC medication. It seemed so ridiculous and costly!
Over the years I realized that my extended benefits cost me about $3,000 out of pocket whether I use them or not.
  I figure I did not create this mess and even though it is silly I don't worry much about the costs to my insurer.
I can see both sides of the situation. The situation is a grey area.
I know that my insurer is in buisness to make a profit and doesn't hesitate to refuse and question claims. I figure that I am in the buisness of making the best of my  personal finances.

As a liberal, I say thank you. We can only provide health care for all, if it is affordable. Abusing the system only ensures less and less people will have access to quality health care.

I love this article.  It makes me gag when I see commercials on TV for Lovaza or Niaspan.  This is one example of what's broken in our healthcare system.

+! on the Trader Joe's omega-3 capsules. They are cheap and they have 50% concentration of combined EPA/DHA. TJ's sells two models of their omega-3 and the other has a lower concentration.

I'll take Lovaza when it's a free sample. It has a 90% concentration but I think the overall total in Lovaza is not much higher than what is available from the local drug store.

The only advantage Lovaza could have is that is monitored very carefully for purity and the like. I'm not sure that's much of a concern.

-- Boris

Are such high doses necessary? 7-8 grams per day of EPA/DHA seems like it would get you well past the desirable 8-10% on the HS-Omega-3 Index (usually only requiting 1-3 grams daily). Is there any need to go beyond 10%?

I take 5-6 TJ omega-3 capsules during the day. Maybe that's a bit much but maybe there is a saturation point? I don't know. I know that omega-3 has cleared my mind, reduced my eye pain, and lowered my blood pressure.

-- Boris

So glad to hear it. When the ads came on TV, it was just another Big Pharma scam. Take a natural product and package it for mega profits.

I finally knuckled under and let my doctor write a prescrption for Niaspan for me - as we were fighting terribly as she was *ADAMANT* that I HAD to take STATINS as my cholesterol was too high (though my HDL was 62 and my triglycerides were 65) and I was flat out refusing. So she then suggested I had to take Niacin.

I was willing to give Niacin a try as I have seen Dr. Davis talk about it here - and she just sent in the prescription via her computer to the mail-order pharmacy I'm required to use to get my prescription insurance coverage.

So imagine my SHOCK when I got the online notice that the prescrption had been filled, and I was able to look it up. A 90-day prescription of Niaspan was about $400! I almost fainted, though my patient share was $75 - or $25/month.

But I still thought it was highway robbery and will never fill the prescription again. If I continue t take Niacin I think it will be Slo-Niacin for me. I'd heard Niaspan was expensive, but had no clue it was that much!

Dear friends,

On Omega-3 highdoses EPA/DHA ; Minami Nutrition is providing Supecrital extraction (low temperature, and not molecular distillation!!) Omega-3 as well guaranties on purity below the detection limit next provinding a 93% Omega-3 per one softgel or 820 mg EPA/DHA per one softgel. look into www.minami-nutrition.co.uk availabel in the US at Wholefoods.

Some people are worry on too much intake of fish oils. Indeed if you swallow standard fishoils with low levels of EPA/DHA as most US products you may swallow also a lot of saturated fats. Go for 1 softgel a day a softgel tahts provide you almost 1 g Omega-3 or a minimum as 820 mg EPA+DHA per softgel. a lot of brands having high levels of pcb's.(see http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/02/health/main6259938.shtml ) be also a ware when mention "per serving" could be 2 to 4 or more softels a day.  Avoid liquid oils as they oxidize fast, as well I'm not in favor of codliver oils as too low on EPA and DHA and to high on vitamin A when taking 500 mg EPA/DHA.

THANK YOU!! For taking a stand where many in your profession will not. We need more of this!

Even the traditional medical community is finally realizing that the omega 3s in fish oil provide some of the best natural health benefits on the planet. Worldwide, the omega 3 supplement market is in the billions of dollars. The drug companies want a piece of the action.

Great insights about how we can have a healthy lifestyle.Omega 3 is good for the heart that's why many people are eating foods rich in Lycopene.

Vitacost.com has their own brand of fish oil, NSI Mega EFA® Omega-3 EPA & DHA.  At 6000mg EPA/DHA a day (10 capsules) in a 240 cap container for $22, that comes out to be $27.50 per month.  And they often have 10% off sales, like right now till 10/31/10.  My personal experience with them has been good, their NSI brand has been high quality, and I rarely find a better price elsewhere.  I'm currently taking 6000mg EPA/DHA daily.

"Egg yolks contain 31 mcg MK-4 per 3 1/2 oz serving (app. 6 raw yolks)."

Any data on the effect of cooking or methods of cooking that would affect the MK-4 in eggs?  Soft boiled, hard boiled, fried (I use coconut oil or butter)whole yolk like over easy, scrambled, in a quiche?  

Any thoughts on other fermented foods and vitamin K--sauerkraut, kim chi, dill pickles?  

And...I have the Thorne Vitamin K2 supplement that supplies vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) one drop equivalent to 1 mg (1250% %DV).  How number of drops daily?

Thank you, Dr. Davis, for bumping this information to more current status.

Dr Davis,

I have read on several blogs that
canola oil...rapeseed oil...is one of the frankenfood oils to avoid
along with corn oil, soybean oil,
safflower oil because they are high in PUFA omega 6 and thus are pro inflamatory agents.
Dr Kurt Harris at Paleonu.com is one who has written to avoid canola as well as flaxseed oil.

I thought bone marrow had k2 in it? If so, this would have been a very appealing source to primitive man.

Dr Davis,

I was under the impression that canola oil as well as flaxseed oil
is to be avoided because of the high PUFAs Omega 6 FA.

Dr Kurt Harris at paleonu.com has written to avoid those oils high in O-6s.

Another beneficial effect of K2 is reversal of tooth decay and self-healing of broken teeth.   This is based on my personal observations.

An interesting study was published within the past several years, by Chris Masterjohn.  His study was to identify the "activator X" factor reported by Dr Weston Price in the early 20th century as being found in the butterfat, organs and fat of animals feeding on rapidly growing green grass (i.e. in the spring).  "X" was also found in fish roe and perhaps other seafood.  

Dr Price believed the vitamin-like 'activator X' was critical for the body's utilization of minerals, prevention of tooth decay, brain function, protection against heart disease and so on. He was never able to identify this factor but did concentrate butterfat (from (spring) grassfed cows) into a butter oil which he gave to patients in his studies on various health issues, with reportedly excellent results.  At least one company today sells butter oil produced from grassfed cows under the same conditions and I know several people who are convinced this has helped keep their families healthy.

For more than 60 years no one knew what activator X actually was until Masterjohn investigated it in detail.  It is his belief that activator X is vitamin K2.  His study (with references)can be found at: http://www.westonaprice.org/On-the-Trail-of-the-Elusive-X-Factor-A-Sixty-Two-Year-Old-Mystery-Finally-Solved.html#summary

Hillary

Don't forget butter fat is another very good source of vitamin K2 MK-4.

Weston Price would argue that dairy fat and eggs from farm raised animals fed (K1 rich) fast-growing grass do have a higher K2 content when compared to grain-fed factory raised animals.  Much of modern animal feeds have high amounts of menadione (a K3 supplement) but the animal's ability to synthesis this to K2 is unknown.

Price's analysis also showed that  a human intestine's ability to synthesis K1 to K2 is much less efficient compared to that of a ruminant's intestine.  I guess that also kind of explains why humans wouldn't do as well on a diet solely consisting of grass as that of a cow.

http://www.westonaprice.org/On-the-Trail-of-the-Elusive-X-Factor-A-Sixty-Two-Year-Old-Mystery-Finally-Solved.html

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2008/06/vitamin-k2-menatetrenone-mk-4.html

DH tried natto because he's intolerant of eggs, casein and a few other foods. He didn't care for it. How many servings of chicken does he need in a week? Would chicken broth have any?

You did not mention butter as a decent K2-MK4 source. Why?

Butter and cream are our greatest sources of K2, next to egg yolks.

Thanks for the blog and regards,
LeenaS

Do you think it would be a good idea to take Vitamin K2 supplements?  Life Extension has one with 1mg MK-4, 100 mcg MK-7, and 1mg Vitamin K1.  Good idea, or premature?

I believe that the data on K2 are compelling. Does K2 supplementation , or at least weighing diet in favor of K2-containing foods, reduce cardiovascular risk or provide better atherosclerotic plaque control? While the circumstantial evidence suggests it will, we still lack the K2 vs. placebo trial that would prove the concept. Nonetheless, because of the data on bone health (which is quite confident), I personally believe there's nothing to lose. I personally supplement 1000 mcg per day.

Pmp and Leena--

Thanks for reminding me about the butter.

Observational studies have linked low intakes of vitamin K with osteoarthritis. No research yet as to whether this vitamin can be used to treat that disease, but I think there is some promise there. More natto, eggs, and leafy green veggies for me.

Dr Davis,

So glad to see your posting on Natto. Could please elaborate on the desirability of consumption of Natto by people who are on Warfarin therapy? You mention that Coumadin blocks all forms of Vit-K and I seem to have read that taking K2 while being on Warfarin is okay. Any pointers to published literature is welcome!

Thanks,
Phil

Ok, right, Stephan did post on K2 in marrow.

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2008/11/vitamin-k2-in-marrow.html


Mmmmmm marrow.

I'll second Dexter's question.  I too, was under the impression that canola oil was not a "healthy" fat.

Another Weston A Price article written by Chris Masterjohn is at

http://www.westonaprice.org/blogs/Cure-for-Cancer-Activator-X-May-Be-the-Missing-Link-1799.html.html

Note the C(ancer) word in the link.

Dr. Davis, I am heterozygous for Factor V Leiden.  I'm not on any anticoagulants, such as warfarin, and have not had any complications.  I am really interested in K2 supplementation because it seems to have so many health benefits, but have been nervous because of my blood clotting condition.  Do you know if K2 supplementation is safe in someone with one Factor V Leiden gene mutation?

Could the atherosclerotic plaque found in Egyptian Mummies possibly have been a mere vitamin-k deficiency? I just never bought the theory that it was totally caused by their grain consumption.

I am on warfarin since December for AFib/flutter which is OK now with sotalol.   I told the cardiologist I didn't like taking warfarin since it destroyed vit K.  He said no, it was the other way around, vit K destroys warfarin, and said "we want you to take vit K".  My INR stays low and they keep increasing the dose.   I believe that warfarin is a vit K antagonist, the more I take the more it will destroy the vit K.  

I can feel it when I am arrhythmic, I weigh 115 lbs, am 62, female and have a low CHADS score, some borderline HBP for which I take norvasc. 15 years ago I had mitral valve repair for a flail leaflet.  How much should I argue with him?   I already have osteopenia.

There was a study on low dose warfarin after coronary artery bypass to see if it helped prevent graft occlusion. It didn't. What they did find was a reduction in mortality after bypass with the warfarin, of about 30%. What I wonder is if adding more vitamin K as a supplement will make you more prone to clot. I worry that this could be a case where there is less calcium, but more clotting in the arteries with the extra vitamin k as one of those unintended consequences.

I would like to here your thoughts about this.

Provided you are not taking warfarin (Coumadin), vitamin K2 supplementation or eating foods rich in K2 should NOT make your blood clot any more than normal.

I tell my patients that taking vitamin K2 is no more likely to make your blood clot than filling your gas tank to the top makes your car go faster.

I just love my Natto and vitamin K2 supplement. Nothing clears my brain fog like Natto.

Dr. Davis,

Thanks for your answer. I take a lot supplements and over the years have added and dropped some due to changes in information about efficacy and safety. With my terribly high calcium score, 686- I have familial hypercholesterolemia, I have been interested in the Vitamin K2 supplements. What has held me back is the question of safety. Over the years some of trials of supplementation with vitamins and other natural compounds that seemed to make sense didn't turn out well clinically. Specifically, I was thinking of the failure of benefit from folic acid supplementation for elevated homocysteine and the problems associated with beta carotene in smokers.

Perhaps it is time now for me to give the Vitamin K2 a try.

Great post, I'm always after information on K2 (although I read the article in its original form too!).

Anyway I was interested to see feta in your list and photographed... I thought that feta being a basically unmatured cheese would be quite low (I used to eat tonnes of 18month-5 year matured cows cheese before I switched only to goat/sheep dairy, so I'd be interested if it was worthwhile eating feta for K2.

I always wondered how much the amounts cited for "hard cheese" varied from cheese to cheese, and how much was from fermentation and how much from cheese being 80% butter.

back in 2002, I had an angiogram due to a series of waring signals and family history. Turns out I had two blockages but somehow my heart had built its own pathways around hence no heat attack. The Surgeon said, he couldn't do much and I needed to get on medication as soon as possible. I won't bother with details but I did slowly make progress to be able to cycle and walk long distances but I always had jaw ache and tightness in my chest just after starting any exercise. I would stop catch my breath, wait for the pain to subside and neither symptom would show again until I went through a rest period.

In Canada the max allowed K2 dose  is 120mcg. Having looked at the various studies, and mechanisms, I decided K2 was my best bet to see some improvement. I was taking 6 capsules of 120mcg MK4 per day. I felt a whole lot better. So, on a trip to the States, I purchased Life Extension "Super K" which is 1000mcg or 1grm of MK4 and mega-dosed for 6 weeks on 6grm/day.  I am back down to one capsule now but I no longer get ANY angina on changes to intensity of exercise. I played soccer in the summer. I even went Jogging in the first part of winter without any issues (heart at least, my lungs are way out of shape!)

Is K2 in high dose safe? I have no idea, but I feel it has worked for me and like so many life style choices, that is a big element in one's well-being.

I am hypothyroid and avoid all soy; also gluten and casein sensitive so avoid gluten foods and dairy.  I do eat whole eggs regularly and leafy greens with hi-oleic safflower oil or avocado oil.  And since butter is mostly fat and very little casein I do have a fair amount of that, too.  

Should I therefore avoid the natto (soy) form of K2 and stick with MK-4 or MK-8?  

Thanks--very interesting topic.

Appreciated post !

Great post, first of all!!!

Second of all, I have a comment on this part of your post:

"--The MK-4 form of vitamin K2 is short-lived, lasting only 3-4 hours in the body. The MK-7 form, in contrast, the form in natto, lasts several days. MK-7 and MK-8-10 are extremely well absorbed, virtually complete. "

While this is true, it tells us nothing about which form is better for human physiology.  Although MK-4 disappears from the bloodstream rapidly, that could either be a good or bad thing.

On the one hand, this could indicate that MK-4 is rapidly taken up by cells, and thus has a greater physiological absorption than MK-7.  MK-7 hangs around much longer in the bloodstream, but this could very well mean that MK-7 is NOT used by human cells very well.

On the other hand, it could be that MK-4 is being rapidly removed and excreted from the bloodstream.

I suspect that the more likely scenario is the first, because the human body does not produce any MK-7 at all.  If you consume MK-1 (phylloquninone) the human body will process some of this into MK-4.  If you take human tissues samples, you will find ONLY MK-4.... no MK-7 or MK-9 at all.

MK-4 is what mammals produce naturally, so it is likely the most physiologically active.

Just a comment.

-greg

Hi Dr. Davis
I've been very interested in the Japanese and their lower postmenopausal hip fracture and heart disease rates.  I'm probably one of the people who added to the traffic on your K2 info.

What also interests me is that the Japanese (and most Asians in general) traditionally use very little in the way of milk products too.  They have low fracture rate and low BMD, interestingly.  They only consume about 500mg of calcium per day mostly through vegetable sources.

I have a study that rated the relative importance of K, magnesium, Vitamin d and calcium in relation to fractures and calcium had the lowest association if any at all.  Vitamin K was strongly associated.

Ecological studies show that cultures that consume less milk have lower fracture rates and that as they consume more milk their rates go up.

Also, I've been reading a bit on the so-called bone-vascular axis and how there might be a connection between osteoporosis and vascular calcification.

Is it possible that the recommendation to consume 3 daily helpings of dairy and supplemental calcium is contributing to the much higher fracture rate and heart disease in the West?

Dr Davis - like a previous poster, I have a factor V (Leiden) heterozygosity. I am currently taking a D3 tab with K2 several times a day for bone health as I now have ostopenia in my neck and osteoporosis in my spine.  I have previously had a TIA and am concerned about another or a full-blown stroke.  After my TIA, my cardiologist found a PFO, which further complicates things.  Is it safe for me to take up to 1,000 mcg of K2 daily?  Thanks

If you’re looking for a supplement to assist in bone health, consider VitaNat Natural Natto Vitamin K2. This takes natto, the Japanese superfood known for being nature’s richest source of Vitamin K, and puts it into capsules. No extracts, no vitamin supplements, just Natto blended to a standard strength of Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is recognised for its role in maintaining good bone health, for more information look up www.vitanatshop.com.

Canola oil is not 'healthy'.  It is processed and most likely GMO.  The industry promoted it as health... Go with Coconut Oil instead! Cheers!

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts.

wonderful post and equally good comments. thanks for sharing

Hello! nice informative article, thanks for sharing with us. how to save a relationship | saving a relationship | save the marriage | win back ex | get him back | getting ex back | want ex back | get her back | to get him back

Hi! interesting article, thanks for sharing with us.
conveyor rollers | conveyor belts | wire mesh | woven wire cloth | conveyor roller suppliers

I have the Thorne Vitamin K2 supplement that supplies vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) one drop equivalent to 1 mg (1250% %DV). How number of drops daily?  Internet Hosting save fuel Electronic Cigarette tava tea error fix

This is a great read. Lots of great information.

Wow! That is some great work. You got to admire the hardwork they exert to build that structure - not to mention how they used a very old technique of using mud.
Essay | Admission Essay

Organ meats such as liver, eggs, cheeses, fermented cheeses and curd are good sources of vitamin K2.

Woodworking Plans
Woodworking Projects
Storage Shed

Plans
Shed

Plans
Shed

Building Plans

I would add fermented (lactic acid bacteria) herring as a potentially vitamin K2 rich food. This food is traditionally eaten in August in north Sweden. It has a horrible smell (H2S), but the taste reminds me of well matured cheese (think rural France).

Much of the developing research on vit K2 is coming from the laboratories of Drs. Vermeer, Geleijnse, and Schurgers at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, along with several laboratories in Japan, the champions of K2.

What labs can, or where/how can I, do a test for vitamin K2 level in the blood, preferrably with a report that distinguishes between MK-4 and MK-7?

The author has written an excellent article. You have made your point and there is not much to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not argue with: No truth is universal, everything has its exception. Thanks for the info

These kind of post are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thank you for the post

K2 or K1 we need to focus on moderation for health. I key is ballance.

Nice piece of information you got here. But this food must be taken moderately right?

thank you for writing, I truly liked your most recent story. I think it is best to post far more typically, you clearly have all-natural capacity for blogging!

thank you for writing, I truly liked your most recent story. I think it is best to post far more typically, you clearly have all-natural capacity for blogging!

Since checking for some time for just a proper read in views to this kinda ecological niche. Essaying in Bing I now spotted this site . Look this info So i am pleased to take that I have a very good depression I bumbled onto whatever I was quick for. I’ll make sure to don’t forget this site and give it a look consistently .

I am quite sure they will learn lots of new stuff here than anybody else!



http://www.boundlesstech.net

A very informative article and lots of really honest and forthright comments made! This certainly got me thinking about this issue, thanks all

Can anyone tell me where I might find Natto minus MSG?

Thanks a bunch.

Ok so k2 is produced by bacterial fermentation but of what nutrient? i have not been able to find any info on what nutrient the bacteria converts into k2 is it k1? or something else.. if its k1 then wouldn't fermentation of foods high in k1 produce the most k2? If so then is Natto loaded with k1?  Just curious because i just tarted making my own sauerkraut and lacto fermented vegetable juice...Have never even tasted Natto but i am going try it and if i like it well ill just have to start making that to...been making homemade curds and whey for awhile now and that should be a good source to. Also it seems that some of the fermented foods that have the most k2 (Natto, sauerkraut) in them are also very high in PQQ which is awesome!!!

Dr. Are you aware that Nature's Pearl Muscadine Grape Seed Extract, inhibited the growth of 7 human cancers in-vitro @ Wake Forerst University Sciences. The in-vivo tests are just now getting done with very very good results as well.....

Found your question why googling K2 when testing positive for Factor V.  I wanted to begin taking vitamin K2 to help in the calcium buildup in my arteries but now found about about Factor V and cannot seem to find information online. Have you received a reply to this question from 2010?

A question: If you take a look (google them) at several websites (such as whfoods) where they look at foods that contain the vitamin K, it seems that whole foods such as Kale along with other leafy greens provide a huge amount of vitamin K - I was surprised to see that this was not mentioned among the various comments - rather supplements are mentioned first and foremost – is this because the Vitamin K and the Vitamin K2 are different? - doesn’t one come from the other? Can someone explain this as I will always try to do through diet first before resorting to supplements?

Yes, two different nutrients.

K1 comes from green vegetables, K2 does not.