By Marcia Zimmerman, CN, The Zimmerman File
Exciting new information on the disease preventing roles of vitamins D and K has been making headlines. How did it happen that these two vitamins, previously known only for bone strength and blood clotting, have suddenly become so newsworthy? Let’s take a closer look.
Vitamin D Hormone
Experts maintain that Vitamin D deficiencies are implicated in 60 to 70 percent of total mortality in high-income countries. Serious illnesses that are associated with vitamin D deficiency include cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, autism, asthma, and a host of other illnesses. A recent meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials found that supplementing 300 to 2,000 IU (528 IU mean dose) vitamin D2 or D3 reduced total mortality by 7 percent. Vitamin D, in its active 25-hydroxy-vitamin D steroid-like hormone form, targets more than 200 human genes involved in tissue repair and maintenance.
One of the most important genes up-regulated by vitamin D is one that encodes for cathelicidin, a naturally occurring broad-spectrum antibiotic. John Cannell, M.D., a psychiatrist at Atascadero State hospital in California, who heads the nonprofit Vitamin D Council, maintains that doses of 2,000 IU of vitamin D taken daily for three days, might produce enough cathelicidin to cure common viral respiratory infections such as influenza and the common cold. Experts think that reduced exposure to sunshine during the winter months explains the seasonal ebb and flow of colds and influenza.
Vitamin D has long been recognized as critical for bone health, by regulating the uptake and utilization of calcium in bone. Now there is resurging interest in vitamin D and calcium homeostasis and osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Until recently its effect upon the cellular receptors in internal organs has not been fully appreciated. It is through these receptors that vitamin D prevents or treats various diseases. In addition to virus infections, these include cancer, and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce diabetes type 2 and inflammation. Experts further suggest that supplementing the vitamin may help lower risk factors for heart disease and hypertension, and that there is widespread deficiency of this important nutrient.
A June 9, 2008 article in the Archives of Internal Medicine by Harvard’s Edward Giovannucci, M.D. and colleagues, revealed that low and moderate blood levels of vitamin D are associated with higher risk of heart attack in men. According to Dr. Giovannucci, “These results further support an important role for vitamin D in (heart attack) risk.”
Vitamin K Biological Response Modifier
Since the time of its discovery in 1935, vitamin K has been widely recognized for its role in blood clot formation. Obviously this is a life-saving event but excessive blood clotting can also be life threatening – leading to stroke and heart attack. While life saving, blood clots can also lead to heart attacks and stroke. To prevent stroke in at risk patients, anticoagulants such as coumadin (warfarin) are widely prescribed. And in the past, doctors have steered patients taking anticoagulants away from eating too many vitamin K rich dark green leafy vegetables. This deprived some patients of the many benefits of adequate vitamin K levels.
Today doctors urge patients to enjoy dark leafy greens but be consistent in the amount they eat. This helps establish the proper blood “thinness” which can be controlled by proper coumadin dose. Cardiologists may not even be concerned about these patients taking vitamin K in a multiple as long as they have frequent INR (International Normalized Ratios) tests. Even more surprising, is the discovery that supplementing with vitamin K (100 @ 500 mcg) daily may stabilize INR levels in patients who have had difficulty maintaining consistent test results.
It is very important for anyone taking coumadin to make sure their doctor approves of vitamin K supplements. Those taking coumadin should also be aware that it depletes other key nutrients such as magnesium, iron, zinc and perhaps Co-Q10. High dose vitamin E may enhance the effects of coumadin and several herbs are contraindicated for use with the medicine. You can find out more about this in the Zimmerman/Kroner book 7-Syndrome Healing , which is available through NOW Foods.
Recent research has identified two other equally important roles for vitamin K. It contributes substantially to bone building and maintenance, especially in osteoporosis and fracture. It is estimated that one in three women and one in twelve men aged over 55 years of age will suffer from osteoporosis in their lifetime. Calcium, vitamins D and K, particularly among older people, have been clearly identified in the scientific literature as preventive of osteoporosis and fracture.
Vitamin K has powerful anti-cancer effects in arresting aberrant cells and amping up apoptosis (cell death). These findings stem from the discovery that several vitamin K-dependent receptors exist in cells and these regulate cell survival, transformation and reproduction. Petri dish (in vitro) and animal (in vivo) studies have shown that menaquinone (vitamin K2) inhibits liver, colon, leukemia, lung, stomach, lymphocyte, nasopharynx, breast and oral cancers. Some investigators report that vitamin K enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs.
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