Vitamin K, Osteocalcin, and Diabetes
August 21, 2007 by ruth
Filed under Food & Nutrition
Vitamin K seems to be a multitasking vitamin. By influencing the secondary modification of osteocalcin, a protein needed to bind calcium to the bone matrix, vitamin K promotes bone health and prevent osteoporosis. It has also been previously shown to help promote cardiovascular health by preventing arterial calcification.
In a new study published in Cell, osteocalcin appears play a role in glucose metabolism by regulating the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas and release it into the bloodstream. Thus they study shows that osteocalcin may play a role in the development of diabetes.
Since the formation of osteocalcin is dependent on Vitamin K, naturally, manufacturers of Vitamin K supplements are quick to seize this as an opportunity to boost reputation of Vitamin K supplements. To prove that there is a real link between Vitamin K supplementation and diabetes, though, is still a long way to go.
What foods contain Vitamin K?
Osteocalcin research and its role in T2, bone mass formation, related to exercise, calcium, Vit K, metabolism of fats and glucose (decrease insulin cell resistance and promote production of insulin in Beta cells) really fascinated me, being a T2 myself.
I design qigong modality based on current scientific research and discovery of Osteocalcin and its function is not only a breakthrough in endocrinology, but a new revelation to me. Now I know why in qigong, meditation, Tai chi, internal energy and breath work, all point to one such design, I call “Qi in the bone”, a visualization with the mind/intent to circulate internal energy through the skeletal bones & ligaments (not the misconception of through the muscles), improving on T2 symptoms and hence blood glucose control. Sustained exercise such as walking after a meal is best in preventing spikes post prandial. Exercise such as weight training is known to build muscles and bone mass. Calcium is the building material for the bones. In qigong we use the intent to move the internal energy called qi in Chinese and where qi goes, the blood circulation is much improved. Osteocalcin seems to be the missing link. T2 has been shown to have low osteocalcin level, caused for example by a sedentary lifestyle. The conclusion of this kind of research is obvious: build bone mass through exercise and increase the level of osteocalcin at the same time, and in turn, boosting insulin production and its cell receptivity. “Qi in the Bone” exercise is perfect for promotion of such a hormone protein and has been the purpose of Damor’s “Brain and Bone Marrow Washing” and “Easing Ligament” Classics, the latter like modified Yoga.
My recommendations for T2 are therefore: a diet rich in calcium, weight training to build muscles, walk after each meal or exercise in a sustained fashion but with breaks in between, build bone mass, improve blood circulation by visualization, meditate to gain knowledge, Tai chi movements especially single forms & standing meditation (Wuji stance) to practice “qi in the bones”, condensed breath work, and Yoga stretch in an integrated approach. These exercises will strengthen the ligaments, build bone mass, improve control of blood glucose, improve our immune system, and most of all, gain knowledge intuitively through mediation: insights, enlightenment, and clear mind increasing our overall intelligence.
I welcome comments
In addition to osteocalcin considerations, Science Daily in early September 2007 related a second important genetic area called osteopontin that too has a role in modulating the effects of insulin sensitivity and glucose levels in the blood stream. These latter two features basically being the building blocks for a typical diabetes case when they dysfunction. The combination of the osteocalcin and osteopontin metabolic systems, over the past few years have shifted a good deal of the dynamics of diabetes developments to bone areas. And thus along with vitamin K, calcium and vitamin D are playing prominent therapeutic roles in preventing and treating diabetes II. The latest osteopontin research results come from the University of Kentucky.
Vitamin K1 is found abundantly in green leafy vegetables such as kale, pak soi, savoy cabbage, some salads, leek and so on. But K1 has a lower bioavailability, so what you want to go for is K2. K2 is found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, miso, and above all, natto. Natto is not for everyone, though I like it a lot. I don’t think one can go wrong with sauerkraut, just make a small in between snack with it every day. Since there is so much K2 in sauerkraut, not much of it needs to be eaten for K2 benefit. I’m not sure if vitamin K is found in animal foods since I’m vegan, and even if, lets start consider the health of everybody involved and reject animal foods.
Dear Anna:
Well, Vitamin K2, inparticular MK-7 (menaquinone-7) is good for the treatment of osteoporosis, diabetes (type 2), and cancers.
How many micro g of vitamin K2 per 100 g of sauerkraut? 100 g of natto contains 800-1700 micro g of MK-7.
Where do you get Natto? In US or Germany? I live in Australia, and I have never seen Natto on the market. So I am planning to make natto at home by myself. I love natto, because I originally came from Tokyo in Japan.