Customer Reviews

Health Benefits of Vitamin K2: A Revolutionary Natural Treatment for Heart Disease And Bone Loss

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This is a very short book, less than 80 pages - which makes it an expensive pamphlet. It contains good information on the MK-7 form of Vitamin K2, but not much you couldn't find yourself. The reference section is of value in pointing the reader to related research. However it's problematic that the references are simply listed in alphabetical order and not linked to actual statements made in the book.

Two things bother me about this book. The first is an assertion that MK-7 may be a better than MK-4 for osteoporosis treatment. The book correctly states that it's the MK-4 form of Vitamin K2 that is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health for treatment of Osteoporosis. They actually prescribe it for osteoporosis in Japan like we do bisphosphonates (like Fosamax) here in the US. It's called Glakay in Japan and is made by a company called Esai. It's 15mg of Vitamin K2 MK-4 taken 3 times per day. (There are studies from Japan you can find online on this topic, and comparing K2 MK-4 to the bisphosphonate drugs we use here with similar results in retarding bone loss but without the side effects of bisphosphonates.) But then the authors state that "recent studies" are now pointing to MK-7 "as an even more appropriate therapy for osteoporosis." Which recent studies would those be? There's no additional information.

The second thing that bothers me are the authors' credentials. The back cover says "Anthony G. Payne, Ph.D. is a staff biological theoretician and senior science writer at the Steenblock Research Institute." If you Google that institute (or Dr. Steenblock himself) you'll find it listed on Quackwatch, among others, but no url turns up for the institute. Then there's the university Dr. Payne graduated from: Aksem Oriental Medical School in Manila, Philippines. I couldn't find this school and most of the top Google search results on its name pointed either to this book or to Dr. Payne.

Normally it wouldn't really matter what an author's credentials were. You don't need an advanced degree to write a book that is basically summarizing available research that's already out there on a topic. But seriously, if your credentials are that sketchy, you'd do better to just leave them off the back cover of the book.

Excellent book with up to date information on the benefits of both dietary and supplemental use of Vitamin K2. Of particular note were the extended strategies in the of prevention and treatment of both heart disease and age-related bone loss, beyond the use of common methods such as surgery and drugs. Overall authors Larry Howard and Anthony Payne have done a fantastic job relaying the most recent scientific data on K2 and applying it in terms that the layman can understand. Recommend for those interested in improving their health and knowledge of natural therapies. I would gladly read this again.