vitamin

According to Wikipedia it says the following http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_K2:

It has been suggested that vitamin K2 may play an important role in maintaining healthy levels of bone mineral density (BMD). However, data on the subject is inconclusive - some clinical trials show no improvement of BMD after vitamin K supplementation. First indications came from patients with femoral neck fractures, who demonstrated an extremely low level of circulating vitamin K. The strong association between vitamin K2 deficiency and impaired bone health was later proved by both laboratory and clinical studies. It has been found that vitamin K deficiency results in a decreased level of active osteocalcin, which in turn increases the risk for fragile bones.[2][3] Research also showed that vitamin K2, but not K1 in combination with calcium and vitamin D can decrease bone turnover.[4] Moreover, a study performed by Knapen et al. clearly demonstrated that vitamin K2 IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF BONE STRENGTH in postmenopausal women, and was the factor for improving bone mineral content and femoral neck width.

Gina, our resident vitamin guru advised to take it.

Vitamin K2 is brand new to the scene but you can find more and more articles and studies supporting adding K2 to help with bone density issues. As we are a community that malabsorbs micronutrients and drops massive amounts of weight really fast, our bones are at risk to. Vitalady first started seeing the studies in 2006-2007 and realized we were missing something important in light of the numerous reports of RNYrs and DSrs slipping into osteoporosis even while their labs were good for vitamin D3, calcium, magnesium, and other markers. She started suggesting we add one dose a day because she didn't know the "right" dose for malabsorbers, and it may be a very individual thing. She hasn't added to her normal start up package yet but she may in time, or I've just missed it.  

My dietitian apparently did some research and agrees that we should be adding vitamin K2 and she's been using me as a lab rat to see what dose seems to work for me. To date, she says 4 - 150 mcg capsules a day. We saw the best improvement in my osteocalcin lab and dexa scans with this dose. There isn't a specific lab for vitamin K2 that's available for all, osteocalcin is the best we have right now. Lower end of normal range is better. Higher end of the range indicates too much bone turnover.

--gina    

It's Huney Pie here.  Thanks for giving a good answer Gina.  I remember that I did some reading up on K2 when I first remember you mentioning it to me shortly after I got switched and the main info my brain retained was 'we need it'!! ;-)

The doctors list is usually substandard for the needs of the DSer.  I would recommend the first few months on Vitaladys prepackaged  plan to give you a solid foundation nutritionally.  Once you get bloodwork again to see where you are, you can start piecing your own regime together as you run low on your vitalady stuff..