When it comes to Vitamin K it all looks fine and dandy, but truth be told, there’s a lot we don’t know. Only few effects of Vitamin K consumption have been proven so far, and these are mostly benefits. But research is currently testing some theories that don’t look too bright! What’s beneficial for women might be harmful for men. What a confusing world we live in…
Vitamin K Natural Sources
K Supplements and Debates
Alzheimer’s Disease – Prevents cell death?
The theory goes like this: Vitamin K has antioxidant abilities that inhibit cell death due to oxidation of nerve cells. Thus Vitamin K supplements can treat the disease. As research has not reached final stages yet, this is a theory! Short term results look promising, but there is no information on long term effects.
Bone Health- Good today, but how about tomorrow?
While natural intake of vitamin K is good for increasing muscle mass, supplementation is another thing.
In some countries like Japan, Vitamin K2 supplements are prescribed to tread osteoporosis. But did they think ahead?
There is no proof of the long term benefits of this treatment! When simulating the treatment on animals, mice and other test subjects were the victims of decreased bone growth. But what does this mean for us humans? We don’t know. For now results look great, but it’s too early to tell if the joy will be short lived.
Cancer prevention– Good for women, bad for men?
This is also in the research stage, but experiment showed that women who have taken Vitamin K supplements are 90% less likely to develop cancer. That is quite a result! No matter how you look at it, the number is significant! Just think of the implications of that… If everyone would take these supplements, in a few years there would be 90% less cases of cancer than today! But something sounds too good to be true…
Men on the other hand are not so lucky! Believe it or not, results are quite the opposite! Prostate cancer is more likely to occur among those who take Vitamin K2 supplements. In the advanced cases of prostate cancer, high intake of Vitamin K was linked to a significant decline of the patients’ condition.
So what do you think? Would you be willing to close your eyes to the lack of scientific proof and risk it for the tempting benefits?
Now, if I could just get up...
interesting…
i don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but if cancer cases fell by 90% (in women), what do you think would happen to funding for cancer research? if it weren’t such a big thing, then would universities and labs be able to get money to continue searching for a cure?
Funding for any kind of research is quite tricky in the current economical situation, but this kind of research is ongoing despite findings. Presently, researchers only link and associate certain things to cancer statistics. There’s a long way to go until there’s actual solid proof and reasoning behind these statistics. And I’m quite sure that until there’s gonna be a pill for cancer that can be sold for hard cash (because no one will release it to the public if they can make a profit), research won’t cease. And even if the government cuts funding for this kind of research, it’s the private investors that have more to gain from this. Information is money my friend!
I am curious about a couple of your statements.
Firstly the studies I have read on animal trials and vitamin K2 have shown that the bones are stronger. Can please give details of the studies that show the the bones aren’t as strong.
Secondly you say that a study has shown that men who take K2 supplements are more likely to get prostate cancer. Please can you give details of which study this has come from. The only study I know of regarding prostate cancer and vitamin K2 is the EPIC-Heidelberg study which has shown that men who consume more K2 are less likely to get advance prostate cancer.
I am very intrigued by vitamin K2 and I would welcome knowing about any negative studies.