I have a difficult time posting links, so bear with me...we are discussing arterial calcification/clogging on another group and want to share some info here, it's valuable as I see it. For the last couple years I've been working with Fibrinogen reduction which is a form of clogging as I understand it all. Nattokinaise is my big helper on this. I've also been upping my Vit C in recent years, most days 2K to 3K complex Vit C from now foods is what I'm taking these days.

Here is what Pauling says:

PaulingTherapy.com - Reversing Heart Disease w/o Drugs is Possible

(If someone wants to post the link, please do, otherwise you can google the above)

Here is another one, hope it opens with no issues:

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...none-mk-4.html

K2 guards against arterial calcification.

One more, hope it opens:

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...-coronary.html

The last one here:

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...itamin-k2.html

Women with the highest K2 intake had the lowest level of coronary calcification.


So from all this what I gather:

So it looks like an MK-4 supplement would be the way to go with arterial calcification. MK-7 would probably help, but has to be converted to MK-4. Just taking MK-4 would be the most direct way to reverse this, in addition to starting the Pauling Therapy.

This K Vit can be confusing, so with a search I found Life Extension Super K with Advanced K2 Complex...believe I'll buy this one with next order I make. You can check it out thru the LEF site. I just bought this from iherb.com for 22.50 free shipping on $20+ orders.



Again, as we all know, one can work on their own, or discuss with doctors. I have faith in myhealth friends who work with all this info. I'm the messanger here only.

Hi Caroline, I am currently using the Life Extension product you mentioned. I like it because it has both MK4 and MK7 in it, and the dosage of MK7 is approximately the same as was used in a 3-year study that showed beneficial effects in bone health for the users. I can’t find a link for this study right now, but I’ll post it when I locate it. Essentially, if I'm remembering correctly, the study concluded that MK7 helps move calcium into your bones and keeps it out of your arteries.

Caroline, just a thought about nattokinase. It is an enzyme, produced by adding the bacterium Bacillus natto to boiled soybeans.

Enzymes are proteins.

All of the comp/alt med sites that I can see sell it in a form to be taken by mouth.

If you are taking it by mouth that is fine - it will not harm you but will not help either.

That is because nattokinase, in just the same way as all of the other proteins in your food, will be broken down into its constituent amino acids by digestive enzymes in your gut. Amino acids can cross the gut wall into your blood - whole proteins can not.

A close analogy: people with Type 1 diabetes need a daily dose of insulin (which is a small protein) to stay alive - they get that dose by injection.

Taking insulin by mouth would be pointless because, (just the same as nattokinase), it would be broken down into its amino acids during digestion. Insulin can not cross the gut wall - that is why people with Type 1 diabetes do not get their insulin in oral form.

Thanks for the analogy with insulin Kiwi, I always wondered why it had to be injected, and now I know. It's amazing what you learn from knowledgeable Friends across this Community.

Dave.

Kiwi, I'm taking Natto caps to reduce Fibrinogen levels which have been elevated as shown in Lipid panels my doc started a few yrs ago. It's working along with extra C, Omega 3's and K2.

Dr. Mercola came thru with this announcement today in his almost daily news I receive from him:

Vitamin K2 Benefits: The Missing Nutrient for Heart and Bone

This not the link but the headline, so maybe someone cares to post link as I have issues often doing them or just google the headline. Thanks.

Good article, Caroline. Here is the link:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...-benefits.aspx

An excerpt:

“Most everyone, including many conventional physicians, have begun to appreciate the importance and value of vitamin D. Few, however, recognize the importance of vitamin K2, which is nearly as important as vitamin D.”