Bone star

Dear Reader, Of all the scams Big Pharma is running on this country, osteoporosis drugs--like Boniva, Fosamax, or Forteo--definitely rank among the worst. Not because they don't do what they say they will. They increase bone mass, alright. But because they also raise your risk of fractures. And I probably don't have to point out that this defeats the purpose of taking an osteoporosis drug entirely. So it's a good thing there are plenty of cheap and safe alternatives out there. Vitamin K2 is one that I mention a lot. And the results of a new clinical study do a fine job of illustrating why. Researchers studied 244 healthy postmenopausal women for three years. During that time, the women received either 180 mcg of K2 or a placebo daily. Assessments of vitamin K status, bone mineral density, bone strength, and vertebral fractures took place at the start of the study--and again after one, two, and three years of treatment. Results showed that K2 supplementation significantly improved vitamin K status. It also slowed down declines in both bone strength and density, while minimizing losses in vertebral height. (Yes, you do actually get shorter as you get older--and this is why.) I'd call that a slightly better bet than Boniva, wouldn't you? The supplement used in this study was a product called MenaQ7--the same brand of K2 that I recommend to all of my patients. If you haven't already, do your bones a favor and pick a bottle up today.