Not too long ago, I had a subscriber ask:
“I eat a diet high in K2, but I don’t feel like I’m getting enough to protect my heart. Could I be doing something that interferes with its absorption?”
Here’s what I told him…
Yes, it’s very possible. Eating a diet high in vitamin K2 may not be enough to protect your heart. Many substances interfere with the actions of vitamin K2. Obviously, the drug Coumadin does. But there are others.
Chitosan is an example. Chitosan is a natural substance found in the exoskeleton of shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, and crab. Many companies promote it as an effective weight loss supplement. It works by impairing fat absorption.
On the surface, this might sound like a pretty good idea. But it isn’t. Anything that interferes with fat digestion will also prevent the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Another big troublemaker is olestra. Olestra (also known as Olean) is an artificial fat created by Procter & Gamble in 1968. This plastic “food” binds to and prevents the absorption of vitamin K. Fortunately, we don’t see this very often, but it’s still available in some markets.
Some cholesterol-lowering drugs, including Clofibrate, Cholestyramine, and Colestipol, inhibit the absorption and the synthesis of vitamin K.
Antibiotics are another problem. In most people, a substantial amount of vitamin K is produced in the bowels from friendly bacteria. Antibiotics, particularly the sulfas, destroy the bacteria that produce vitamin K.
But that’s not all. Other vitamin K antagonizers include antacids, chemotherapy, laxatives, and alcohol.
So if you’re not getting enough K2 from your diet, see if you’re taking any of these medications. You may need to take a supplement that provides ample K2. The usual dose is 100-200 mcg of MK7 Vitamin K2 daily.
Yours for better health,
Frank Shallenberger, MD