for bruising and to avoid liver cancer-Vitamin K

[merryBe]

anybody on this?  Comments??

Vitamin K2 Decreases Risk of Liver Cancer in Women With Viral Cirrhosis


Yael Waknine
Medscape Medical News 2004. © 2004 Medscape




July 20, 2004 — Vitamin K2 decreases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in women with viral cirrhosis of the liver, possibly by delaying the onset of carcinogenesis, according to the results of a preliminary study published in the July 21 issue of JAMA.

"A number of findings indicate that vitamin K may play a role in controlling cell growth," write Daiki Habu, MD, PhD, and colleagues, from the Graduate School of Medicine at Osaka City University in Japan. "Geranylgeraniol, which is a side chain of vitamin K2, strongly induces apoptosis of tumor cells, suggesting that geranylgeraniol might play an important role in inhibiting cell growth."

To determine the effect of vitamin K2 on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, the investigators recruited 40 women diagnosed with viral liver cirrhosis, of whom 21 were randomly assigned to treatment with 45 mg per day of vitamin K2. All patients received symptomatic therapy for ascites and dietary advice.

Compliance in the vitamin K2 treatment group was good, and no adverse reactions were reported.

During more than seven years of follow-up, the cumulative proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly smaller in the treatment group (2 of 21 patients) compared with the control group (9 of 19 patients; log-rank test, P = .02). All cases were newly diagnosed and in the initial stages (1 or 2).

Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made at 907 days after enrollment in the treatment group compared with 91 days after enrollment in the control group.

Univariate analysis showed the risk ratio for development of hepatocellular carcinoma to be 0.20 in patients given vitamin K2 compared with the control group (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 -0.91; P = .04)


The risk ratio further decreased to 0.13 on multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, alanine aminotransferase activity, serum albumin, total bilirubin, platelet count, α-fetoprotein, and prior treatment with interferon alfa (95% CI, 0.02 - 0.99; P = .05).

The authors note that the annual incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was 1.6% in the treatment group compared with 8.8% in the control group and 7.9% in the general cirrhotic population.

Limitations of the study include small population size, the exclusion of men from the study, and the participation of only one center.

"[D]espite its small size, our study indicates that vitamin K2 decreases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma to about 20% compared with the control group, [and suggests] that vitamin K2 may delay the onset of hepatocarcinogenesis," the authors write, adding that these preliminary results should be confirmed in multicenter, randomized controlled trials.

This work was supported in part by a grant from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

JAMA. 2004;292:358-361

Reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD

[merryBe]

more recent research is also confirming the older methods

Liver Int. 2008 Jan;28(1):132-9. Epub 2007 Nov 19. Links
KAI1 gene suppresses invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97-H cells in vitro and in animal models.Yang JM, Peng ZH, Si SH, Liu WW, Luo YH, Ye ZY.
Zhejiang Provincial Key Gastroenterology Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. ***@****

BACKGROUND: Downregulation of KAI1 gene expression has been found in many types of cancer cells and is closely related to cancer invasion and metastasis. This study was aimed at investigating the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of KAI1 gene on invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The invasive ability, visco-elastic properties and cell adhesion forces were analysed in different HCC cells originating from the MHCC97-H cell line transfected with either the sense or the antisense KAI1 expression plasmid. Tumuorigenicity, metastatic abilities, extracellular matrix (ECM) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression were also evaluated in the nude mouse models of the xenografted and orthotopic liver cancer cells. RESULTS: Compared with their parental cells, in the HCC cells transfected with the sense KAI1 gene, the invasive ability in vitro was significantly decreased (P<0.01); the cellular elastic coefficients K(1), K(2) and mu were significantly higher (P<0.05); the cells adhesion forces to fibronectin were significantly lower (P<0.01). The sense KAI1 gene transfection into the cancer cells also inhibited their invasion and lung metastasis in the orthotopic liver cancer nude mice. However, the opposite changes were observed in the HCC cells transfected with the antisense KAI1 gene. KAI1 gene transfection also affected ECM and ICAM-1 expression in the transplanted liver cancer. CONCLUSION: The KAI1 gene plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of human HCC and its upregulation in HCC cells suppresses their invasive and metastatic abilities. KAI1 gene functioned as a metastasis inhibitor by regulating the HCC cell biophysical behaviours including aggregation, adhesion, motility and visco-elastic properties.

[merryBe]

here's a laymans synopsis

note the change in cancer rate in the bottom paragraphs

-- May 29, 2002 -- Portal vein invasion (PVI), seen frequently in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, can be prevented in half treated with vitamin K, researchers say.

They presented their results here at the 103rd annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association and Digestive Disease Week (DDW), held May 19-23.

Diagnosis of PVI is a frequent event after diagnosis of liver cancer. Dr. Yukihiro Koike, of the department of gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, Japan, and colleagues previously showed a close association between levels of des-g-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP) in serum and development of portal invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

In Dr. Koike's study, 120 patients were treated with ablation, embolization, or both between February 1999 and November 2001at the University of Tokyo or its affiliated hospitals. All patients enrolled had low serum levels of DCP (60 IU/L or more). Half of patients were randomized to receive oral vitamin K-II at a dose of 45 mg/day.

Dr. Koike said that 50 of the treated patients had hepatitis C, as did 52 of the controls. The groups were well matched on other criteria as well.

Average follow up was 12 months. Patients had computed tomography scans every six months, ultrasound at three-month intervals, and DCP levels measured every month.

Results show that 59 percent of patients treated with vitamin K-II were alive at two years compared to 29 percent of those who were not given vitamin K-II (p=0.14). Invasion of the cancer into the portal vein occurred in 2 percent of the vitamin K-II treated group at one year and in 13 percent at two years, compared to 21 and 55 percent of controls, respectively.

Dr. Koike said that vitamin K-III, which was not available in Japan at the time of the study, might be an even more effective treatment for prevention of PVI. Vitamin K-III has been shown to interfere with the electron transport chain in mitochondria and thereby slow cell growth and cancer spread, he said.

mb

[merryBe]

in laymen term here, note the different rates of portal tension and cancer

-- May 29, 2002 -- Portal vein invasion (PVI), seen frequently in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, can be prevented in half treated with vitamin K, researchers say.

They presented their results here at the 103rd annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association and Digestive Disease Week (DDW), held May 19-23.

Diagnosis of PVI is a frequent event after diagnosis of liver cancer. Dr. Yukihiro Koike, of the department of gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, Japan, and colleagues previously showed a close association between levels of des-g-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP) in serum and development of portal invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

In Dr. Koike's study, 120 patients were treated with ablation, embolization, or both between February 1999 and November 2001at the University of Tokyo or its affiliated hospitals. All patients enrolled had low serum levels of DCP (60 IU/L or more). Half of patients were randomized to receive oral vitamin K-II at a dose of 45 mg/day.

Dr. Koike said that 50 of the treated patients had hepatitis C, as did 52 of the controls. The groups were well matched on other criteria as well.

Average follow up was 12 months. Patients had computed tomography scans every six months, ultrasound at three-month intervals, and DCP levels measured every month.

Results show that 59 percent of patients treated with vitamin K-II were alive at two years compared to 29 percent of those who were not given vitamin K-II (p=0.14). Invasion of the cancer into the portal vein occurred in 2 percent of the vitamin K-II treated group at one year and in 13 percent at two years, compared to 21 and 55 percent of controls, respectively.

Dr. Koike said that vitamin K-III, which was not available in Japan at the time of the study, might be an even more effective treatment for prevention of PVI. Vitamin K-III has been shown to interfere with the electron transport chain in mitochondria and thereby slow cell growth and cancer spread, he said.

mb

[merryBe]

the reason I said small doses, like 45 mg was due to my reading.

the primary vitamin I'm taking about here is Vitamin K-2.....not K1 and not k3

K-2 is not problematic and has a very imressive record of helping heart and liver health.

Vegetarians get very little K-2 since the vegetable form is mostly unabsorbable, yeilding only about a 10% contribution to the bloodstream.
Many people assume a vegetarian diet is more healthy, but it has signifigantly higher incidence of deficiaency related diseases. Obviously it has benefit to heart and so forth, but it's not the pantacea many think it is.

K-2 is a different vitamin is the thing to remember. Just like thiamine is not niacin is not biotin etc.....they are all part of the B-complex but do very separate things in and for the body.

here's an interesting primer with video lectures

http://www.vitamink2.org/presentation.html

[Bill1954]

“…but then you look at the vegetarians, or those with lower meat diets, and especially those with bad gastro sides like diarreha and you think, well, maybe HCV patients are a good candidate for supplementation.”

Vegetarians? Those with lower meat diets?

From the Linus Pauling institute, Oregon State University:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminK/

“Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) is the major dietary form of vitamin K. Green leafy vegetables and some vegetable oils (soybean, cottonseed, canola, and olive) are major contributors of dietary vitamin K.”

According to the above linked site, one cup of kale contains 547 µg vitamin k; one cup of broccoli; 220 µg. The typical supplement provides 10-120 µg. I’d say that most vegetarians are well covered in regards to this vitamin.

In fact, according to the institute, some forms of synthetic vitamin K are known for hepatatoxicity:

“…The same is not true for synthetic menadione (vitamin K3) and its derivatives. Menadione can interfere with the function of glutathione, one of the body's natural antioxidants, resulting in oxidative damage to cell membranes. Menadione given by injection has induced liver toxicity, jaundice, and hemolytic anemia (due to the rupture of red blood cells) in infants; therefore, menadione is no longer used for treatment of vitamin K deficiency.”

Ditto NYGirl- check with your doctor prior to taking any supplements, especially those recommended on an internet discussion group.

Bill

[nygirl7]

Merry

My doc told me not to take ANY extra vit K that we got enough in our food and that too much was not good for our livers.

I don't remember exactly why but I do know that for a fact it was on the 'do not take' list along with iron.

I'd double check with your liverhead before supplementing.

[Rockerforlife]

YOU  would rather eat refined foods...whose the sucker here?

[merryBe]

yes the intetines make 85 % of it, also the meat and eggs we eat contribute...

but then you look at the vegetarians, or those with lower meat diets, and especially those with bad gastro sides like diarreha and you think, well, maybe HCV patients are a good candidate for supplementation. Especially since loose bown is a common side of INF.
Plus the HCV makes you 10-20 times more likely (some studies say higher, to develop HCC...hepatic cancer.....so I thought it might be worth bringing up.
I just checked several newer studies. One suggested a enormous drop in liver cancers..

One cautionary would be if you have any clotting history. I'm on procrit and estrogen, so this is not one to mega dose....but an additional 45 mg. should be a therapeutic dose.

You can find a lot about this one, and buy it, on the Life Extention site.

Rocker....yeah but who wants to eat pond scum....ok, I know they sell it....(oxynarine and the like, a sucker born every minute)...but I'll stick to the refined product.

Of course the dilemna again becomes when more lipids are good on tx and when they might not be. If some genius could answer my 64 dollar question here I'd be in hog heaven.

mb

[lalapple]

very interesting!  although vitamin K is a nonessential vitamin that the bacteria in our intestines can make.

[evangelin]

If you google it ,there are studies showing it helps insulin resistance too.  I read it recently and if I remember correctly, it was especially effective in elderly men more so than women but I don't know enough about it to really say.  Maybe elderly men were mainly who they tested.  It might be worth looking in to though. I don't have time to find the study right now because I gotta get up verrrry early tomorrow.
Goodnight,
Ev