Warfarin, arterial calcification, and vitamin K

[AZ Don]

An interesting article linked below reports that taking warfarin can significantly increase arterial calcification. Since warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist, and I've read that taking vitamin K may decrease arterial (and therefore possibly aortic valve) calcification, this makes sense. I just never made the connection before. The article goes on to report that vitamin K supplementation may reverse arterial calcification. At least in rats. Shame that was not tested on those taking warfarin. Anyone have more info about increased arterial calcification with warfarin and whether taking vitamin K, or K2 can limit or reverse it?
http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2015/7/Turning-To-Stone/Page-01

A separate article reviews some of the new blood thinners available. Not much new news here. New blood thinners tend to be more predictable and consistent, require less testing, but have no long term safety data and the effects cannot be quickly reversed as those from warfarin can.
http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2015/7/Important-Data-On-3-New-Oral-Anticoagulants/Page-01

Note - both articles were published by Life Extension magazine. While I think their articles tend to be well researched with numerous references, as a seller of vitamins they have an inherent bias in favor of supplements.

 

[Paleowoman]

I'm not on warfarin but I've been taking vitamin K2, the one that protects against arterial calcification, for several years. I have a big interest in K2 because of both my arterial and valvular health and osteoporosis. Here's a paper addressing warfarin and K2, though it doesn't come to any conclusions, 'Vitamin K-dependent Proteins, Warfarin, and Vascular Calcification': http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/3/5/1504.long

 

[cldlhd]

I've been taking a vitamin k2 supplement. Unfortunately it's hard to find a daily multi that has it in the seemingly preferred form and I haven't found any childrens multi that has k2 at all. My 8 yr old takes a daily multi but I know if I asked his doctor about a k2 supplement , even only 45 mcg, he'd say not to do it.

 

[Boomanchu]

Can k2 be taken on warfarin without increasing warfarin? Ugg

 

[Paleowoman]

No idea, but K2 is nothing to do with coagulation, unlike K1 which is the coagulation vitamin. Most doctors don't know that there is a K1 and a K2, they only think of vitamin K… which means K1.

 

[pellicle]

Hi AZ

http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2015/7/Turning-To-Stone/Page-01[/url]

many studies that I've read produce contractictory results, indicating that there may be other factors involved (which are not taken into account in each or all studies). The transferrability of calcium metabolism between rats (usually clones of a specific genotype) and humans (perhaps even other rats) is not certain and is used only to indicate that its worth investigagint.

Note - both articles were published by Life Extension magazine. While I think their articles tend to be well researched with numerous references, as a seller of vitamins they have an inherent bias in favor of supplements.

important observation IMO ... follow the money trail too I say.