For Canna-info on Vitamin K2 - Osteoporosis Message Board

starfish81 · 03-28-2008, 08:34 PM

Hey Canna-I saw my naturopath today, and so, as I promised, I asked about Vitamin K for osteoporosis. I was there for another reason so the osteo discussion was quite brief. However, he looked at all 6 DEXA scans from age 40-50 and seemed quite surprised at how low my lumbar #'s are (considering all the things I'm doing right). Anyway, he highly recommends Vitamin k2 and "prescribes" the 15 mg. Having said that, this amount "can only be shipped to US addresses" if ordered on-line. I asked at the health-food store in Waterloo and they only sell K in micrograms-way too low to be therapeutic. That makes me so mad

! We Canadians are allowed to smoke our brains out, get intoxicated with alcohol and poison our bodies with the likes of Fosamax, but heaven help us if we want therapeutic doses of a common vitamin

!

I told him about the strontium and that I'm only taking 341 mg (1 capsule) instead of 2 and he thought that was fine too. He said that because I'm using strontium, I don't need to go wild with the calcium supplementation and that 1000-1200 mg calcium from food sources should be just fine. I asked his position on dairy foods as a calcium source, and he'd prefer I don't rely solely on dairy but also greens, soy milk, almonds etc. He said that exercise will be my best defense, and to keep up all the activity I'm doing and try for 3 Pilates classes/week which should strengthen the low back. Thank goodness I'm an early retiree and have time for all this.

So there you have it. I'm going to stock up on Boron, K2 and strontium every time we're in the USA. I hope this info helps, Canna, and I'd be happy to try and help with any other questions.

Canna · 03-29-2008, 09:57 AM

Thank you Starfish really appreciate you taking the time to get back to me. Sounds like u are doing all the right things. That is maddening regarding only to american addresses but i am guessing.. 125 mcg is the highest amount that they recommend in canada and they cannot go beyond that and then of course we must suffer as it could take years to increase the amount. But I am wondering how many capsules containing 125 mcg would equal 15 mg.. I guess that is what i have to figure out next. It is the same with vitamin d recommended amount that is so low here too. This journey to greater bone density is not easy!!! esp when we do not have the products and have to look elsewhere. Again thanks and good luck. I must myself check out a naturopath sometime soon!!

Canna · 03-29-2008, 10:34 AM

Starfish, me again I think i got it figured out... if i take two 120mcg's that will equal roughly 16 mgs... (about 8.3 mgs in 120 mcg) so I need to increase as i was only getting roughly 8 mg a day with one 120mcg. From my research K2 is well prescibed in Japan for bone density .. it seems up to 45 mgs a day .... apparently with vit k supplements the urinary excretion of calcium falls 50% and it serves as glue to help plug calcium into the bone matrix so it do play a key role in bone formation. So everyday I learn something new and today i learned that I need to take more K2... thanks again

starfish81 · 03-29-2008, 02:23 PM

Hi Canna: Actually,15 mg = 15,000 micrograms. I think your best bet would be to find an on-line source for K2 and then plan a vacation in the USA and have the supplements shipped there. I'm glad you mentioned the Vitamin D; I'm so used to buying it OTC when we go across the border that I forgot the Canadians have the same stupid regulations about that one too

. I'm on 3000IU/day of D3.

Canna · 03-29-2008, 07:32 PM

Yes ... what was i thinking..I was way out on that one.. big time.. it is 15,000 mcg's OMG that is a vast difference than what they recommend here in our neck of the woods... 90 -120mcg's.. unreal it is getting flustrating... and i am very disappointed over this!!! Oh yes starfish one more question you said that you are only taking one strontium ... were you on higher dosage and cut back? I am taking 681 mg since November which is 3 capsules as I get the AOR in 227 mg. each .. canadian orders it is 227mg and us orders it is 341mg. When u cross over the border can u get the stontium and d etc in Buffalo as I may be heading there later i have relatives in Toronto Ontario and my sis in law drives to usa for one day shopping.