Ever since I found out about this unique vitamin known as Vitamin K2 which Dave Asprey from the Bulletproof Executive has claimed can sometimes even reverse cavities and fill in teeth dentin cracks, I have wondered whether it might be possible to use Vitamin K2 as a type of supplement a person can take to either increase height or at least prevent too much height loss later in life.
I personally have tried searching for the Vitamin K2 supplement and in the US when going into a GNC, I have managed to find maybe only 1-2 bottles with Vitamin K2, which is also known as Menaquinone. Compared to the much more popular and easier to obtain Calcium & Vitamin D combination or Glucosamine Sulfate w/ Chondroitin combination, Vitamin K2 is a much rarer compound. I personally have not found any places (at least in the major department stores) which sell Vitamin K2 supplement pills in Seoul, South Korea.
So the question is “Does taking Vitamin K2 help increase height?”
From the forum section in the website for the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Support Community there is a linke to a post where some people have claimed that from taking Vitamin K2 they actually increased in height. The website is called Pheonic Rising, which is a website dedicated to providing information and support to people who suffer from (or know someone who suffer from) ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The actual thread asks “Has K-2 (mk-4 and mk-7) Helped You?”
Some poster claims that Vitamin K2 and other soluble vitamins in fat cause inflammation of their tendons.
There was 3 studies that were referenced which gave me some evidence that there might be a link between Vitamin K2 intake and some effect on final adult height. They are…
- Effects of the blood coagulation vitamin K as an inhibitor of arterial calcification.
- Menaquinone-4 enhances testosterone production in rats and testis-derived tumor cells.
- Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase expression by menatetrenone, a vitamin K2 analogue.
The really interesting study that got my attention was
Since I did research just today on the possibility that pleiotrophin might be used to increase height, the fact that Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 both are pleiotropic nutrients shows that there is a link.
From the thread, on the third page, in a post written by a poster named “Asklipia” who has been commenting on the forum for a long time, they state a very interesting story of increased height. The original post was written in July 19, of 2012…
Hi Dannybex,
You want to know it all!!!
This is how it happened :
By 2001 we had identified ingestion of MSG and glutamates as being at least a switch to our sickness episodes (now convinced it is more than that). It took 4 more years until we could avoid glutamates entirely (man-made glutamates that is). Very long story.
Once we were successful, we got huge improvements and then could not improve further.
Then we lived in Japan-Korea-Hong Kong and wondered : how do all these Japanese eat so much MSG and are still alright? The place was like a special MSG hell. The answer is : they are not. Next question : What do they do about it? Answer : they take all kinds of supplements on the sly. In Tokyo executives start their day with a bottle of an amino-acid drink, chockfull with B12 and taurine (a known MSG antagonist).
At a massage spa a lady told me about menatetrenone. Generics selling in spas in 2000 pill bottles. One wonders why if it is a prescription drug for old ladies with brittle bones!?!
I did some research as you can imagine. A lot of research, including using Google translate to find out about Japanese and Korean research. A lot of thought has come from that.
Since one of the virtues of menatetrenone is the mopping up of extra glutamates, I thought it was worth a try.
So we started on menatetrenone 15 mg a day. A small dose to fight let’s say osteoporosis. Which I was starting to suffer from on top of the rest. My husband did not but he had what they had diagnosed as a deficiency in growth, meaning some of his bones never grew totally (happily it doesn’t show from the outside). For osteoporosis in Japan, the dose is 45 mg in three doses a day for a lady weighing 45 kgs. So we reckoned 15 mg was peanuts for us.
No way could we take the 45 mg. Immediately I felt a general improvement on all kinds of symptoms, but at the same time we could feel our livers were having a hard time. Not too bad, but I thought we should wait before taking more. From time to time we tried taking a second dose, and it took 6 months before we could ramp up to 30 mg then 45 mg per day.
Strange things started to happen :
I grew up 2 cms then a third and last cm at 58 years of age. This has now stopped. Might mean that I too had a deficiency in growth. My jaw which had osteoporosis, especially around one of the articulations (if I yawned it would pop out), filled up and I did not need to have extra bone added to it as the dentist had planned. I stopped having teeth problems and periodontal problems. My face became wider, it seems the bones under my eyes filled up and became more round as in a youthful look.
My husband did not grow in height but in width. He suffered a little every night for months from growing pains behind his heart as his ribs grew to make a wider thoracic cage. At that place on his back he had a strange red spot which at the moment is still there but a different colour. A calcified place at the top of his lungs (which doctors had said was caused by TB) has now turned normal and he can use his lungs fully. We had to give away all of his suits and shirts. The cuffs did not reach the wrists by 10 cms. He has not put on any weight though.
All this is only for bones.
I am not ready to explain all of my theory. Not that I want to keep it a secret or that I want to make money from it. It is just that writing this down takes a lot of energy. Also diving into the murky waters of deceit to retrieve these pearls of discovery is very intense. The more I find out, the more I find out and it all falls into place. It is huge and terrible. I am so small.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8
For the moment let’s call it Fake Folate Poisoning.
I hope this answers your question.
Lots of good wishes,
Asklipia
Hi Lou, sorry I took so much time to answer, I was away.
There are no miracles most probably, just things that work in a way we don’t understand yet!!!!!
My growth was documented. When I got a passport at age 19 the police measured me with a big wooden gauge (I don’t know how this is called in english) and the result was 1m 69. I was measured in the same way every time I had to get new identification, the last time when I was 32 with the same results. After that they did not measure me anymore and just copied the 1m 69 on my new passports. When I was 58 I went for blood tests in a hospital where they wouldn’t let me have the tests if they were not prescribed by a doctor. The nurse “prepared” me for the doctor by taking down my weight, blood pressure and height too with the same kind of wooden gauge. She found 1 m 70. I thought she was wrong and she did it again. At that time I had already started taking MK-4.
Six months later I went to another hospital for blood tests in another country and I was similarly measured : result = 1 m 71.
So I am sure I grew 2 cms and it is documented. Well, I have not changed my passport and I am a bit weary of disclosing my growth to the authorities because nobody will believe me and this will cast a doubt on my identity with potential problems.
I do not know if I have grown more since then. I did not feel the change when I grew 2 cms and this did not make a difference in my clothes etc. Maybe I have. I am not ready to rush to a hospital that provides this service to find out!
This cannot be a result of better posture because I have been a strong swimmer (1 km a day until I was 35) and my back was perfectly straight, maybe be less so nowadays, which would have contrary results on my height.
Analysis On This Height Growth By Vitamin K-2 Story
So let me summarize just what the critical facts are. The first time she had her ‘adult’ height measured definitively was when she was 19. Some guys used some wooden gauge and found she was 1.69 meters tall. All the subsequent measurements she needed to do to get ID got the same height. At the age of 32, her height was still 1.69 cm. Then at the age of 59, she had to see a doctor to get some blood work done and she was measured at 1.70 meters, which is only a 1cm of increase. She started to take MK-4, a type of Vitamin K2. 6 months later, she got another blood work done and her height was measured again. The height now increased to 1.71 meters tall. She states that it is note from a better posture. She has been a strong swimmer in all of her younger days adn her back has always been very straight.
In terms of the actual supplements she has been trying out over the last few years she states the following…
So she and her husband, both suffering from bone growth issues like osteoporosis found out that ingestion of MSG and glutamate is really bad so they spent years trying to find diets and lifestyle ways to avoid easting man-made glutamates. They lived in east asia like Japan and they founf out that the Japanese don’t eat MSG, but take a bottle of amino acid drink which has B12 and taurine in the morning. Taurine she states is a MSG antagonist.
A person she talked to got her to start taking Menatrenone, which is supposed to remove excess glutamate. She started to take 15 mg a day and then slowly increase the dosage to 45 mg/day (3 pills a different times of the day).
This resulted in her being 2 cms taller, her jaw bone being strong again, joints becoming stronger and filled out, her teeth & periodontal problems went away, jaw got wider. Her husband did not increase in height, but his bones seemed to have gotten much wider since his wrist got wider . It seems that the chest region of the husband became much wider, as his ribs grew out (note that there is cartilage tissue in the sternum area in adult humans). Liver problems came and went away.
—————–
The study Vitamin K2 supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women gives a slight suggestion that maybe the key in the efficacy of Vitamin K2 is its ability to increase the thickness of long bones and make them stronger by creating more appositional growth forming a stronger area.
I would look for other sources and websites that link Vitamin K2 (MK-7) to increased height. One source states…
MK-7 intake significantly improved vitamin K status and active osteocalcin levels, and decreased the age-related decline in bone mineral concentration (BMC) and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. It did not increase either measure at the total hip. Bone strength was also favorably affected by MK-7 – a key determinant of fracture risk. Lastly, MK-7 significantly decreased the loss in vertebral height of the lower thoracic region at the mid-site of the vertebrae.
The website Life Extension mentions the same study which showed that taking of MK-7 seemed to reduce bone loss in post-menopausal women. The article is entitled “Vitamin K2 supplements reduce bone loss in women”
An article that appeared online on March 23, 2013 in the journal Osteoporosis International reports the outcome of a trial conducted by researchers in the Netherlands which found a benefit for supplementing with vitamin K2 in postmenopausal women—a group that has an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
Participants who received vitamin K also had better bone strength and a reduction in the loss of vertebral height in the middle site of the lower thoracic region after two and three years of supplementation.
Conclusion
I am not sure how viable is the idea of taking Vitamin K2 ,whether MK-4 or MK-7 is for height increase. There is only one case (this case) I found which links Vitamin K2 consumption with increased height in adulthood and the compound was the MK-4 version, which is also known as menatetrenone. The dosage was at 15 mg per day and the result was 2 cms of extra height. However the vitamin is critical in healthy keep bone density high so that at least women won’t loss height so dramatically later in life. The writer states that Japanese women who are around 45 kg is supposed to take 45 mg of MK-4 every day, in proportion to their weight.
If we read the study “Vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) effectively prevents fractures and sustains lumbar bone mineral density in osteoporosis.” it shows that fractures are reduced in women who take Vitamin K2/Menatetrenone/ MK-4.
I think that for the future, for anyone who wants to make sure that they decrease the effects of height loss as much as possible in old age should start taking Vitamin K2, both MK-7 and MK-4.
From the study “Use of Vitamin K2 (Menatetrenone) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the Prevention of Bone Loss Induced by Leuprolide”
the study states clearly that apparently Menaquinone-$ has 2 basic functions
- It increases the formation of osteoblasts
- It induces the apoptosis of osteoclast, preventing bone resorption.
From the study above…
“Menatetrenone (menaquinone-4), the form of vitamin K2 with 4 isoprene units at the 3 position of the quinone structure, has been reported to be the most potent vitamin K (7). As a result, menatetrenone has been developed for the treatment of osteoporotic patients. It has two effects: enhancement of osteoblast function, and inhibition of osteoclast function. Vitamin D3 supplementation has been proven to prevent bone loss in elderly women, mainly by increasing calcium (Ca) availability (8). Vitamin K2 improved bone mass in patients with high 1,25(OH)2D3 serum levels more than in patients with low 1,25(OH)2D3 serum levels”
It says that of all the types of Vitamin K, menaquinone-4 aka menatetrenone seems to be the most potent. It seems that also Vitamin K2 (MK-4) can be combined with Vitamin D3 for a much stronger effect due to synergy.
The researchers conclude with the summary…
“We hypothesize that of 1,25-(OH)2D3, added to vitamin K2, promotes the coupling of bone and restores homeostasis of osteocalcin and osteoblast balance faster than in nontreated or vitamin K2-only or 1,25-(OH)2D3-only patients. It is possible that the combination therapy of 1,25-(OH)2D3and vitamin K2 is more effective in longer periods of treatment.”
Tyler’s Notes:
Here’s a review on Vitamin K2:
The role of menaquinones (vitamin K2) in human health.
“menaquinones, also known as vitamin K2, may be more effective in activating extra-hepatic vitamin K-dependent proteins than phylloquinone, also known as vitamin K1. ”
“Dietary intake of menaquinones accounts for up to 25 % of total vitamin K intake and contributes to the biological functions of vitamin K.”<-If we already get Vitamin K2 in the diet that doesn’t explain the height increase anecdote from the 35 year old swimmer.
“Phylloquinone is a single compound with a side chain of four isoprenoid residues, three of which are saturated . Menaquinones, commonly found in nature, have side chains of varying length between four and thirteen isoprene residues, most of which are unsaturated”
“MK-4 is unique among the menaquinones in that it is not synthesised by bacteria. Instead, MK-4 is alkylated from menadione (vitamin K3), a synthetic form of vitamin K that is present in animal feeds, or is the product of tissue-specific conversion directly from dietary phylloquinone, with menadione as the postulated intermediate. There is also speculation that longer-chain menaquinones, such as MK-7, can be converted to MK-4 as well. The most abundant menaquinones in the human diet are the short-chain MK-4, which originates from animal products, and the long-chain MK-7, MK-8, MK-9 and MK-10.”<-So MK-4 is already in the human diet.
“All forms of vitamin K have one well-known function. They all serve as a cofactor for the post-translational enzyme γ-glutamate carboxylase, which is established by the common naphthoquinone ring structure. This enzyme converts certain protein-bound glutamate residues into γ-carboxyglutamate, generally known as Gla. Currently, seventeen members of the Gla protein family are known, including seven proteins involved in blood coagulation (all synthesised in the liver), osteocalcin (OC; bone), matrix Gla protein (MGP; mainly cartilage and vessel wall), growth arrest-specific protein 6, Gla-rich proteins, two proline-rich Gla proteins, two transmembrane Gla proteins, periostin and periostin-like factor”<-MGP inhibits cartilage mineralization but remember that inhibiting cartilage mineralization does not always increase height and in some instances decreases it.
“Menaquinones generally are of microbial origin. Important dietary sources are cheese, curd and natto (a traditional Japanese food composed of fermented soya beans), while dietary phylloquinone is mainly found in green vegetables, notably spinach, broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts. Estimated intake of phylloquinone and menaquinones in The Netherlands and Germany has suggested that between 10 and 25 % of total vitamin K intake are provided by menaquinones”<-More Americans eat cheese than green vegetables so it’s more likely that americans are lacking in Vitamin K1 than K2.
“long-chain menaquinones, MK-7 to MK-10, are predominantly consumed by high dairy intake populations, such as the Dutch population.”<-a possible link of Vitamin K2 to height as the dutch are tall.
I think if Vitamin K2 does increase height it’s due to an undocumented effect as MGP overexpression hasn’t been found to be linked to tall stature in gene expression studies and MGP seems more like an equilibrium quantity gene.
I know all this is on people with osteoporosis but it still looks promising and if LSJL degrades bone it may have the same effects, so i will be taking this in the near future
Micheal will you do some research on TMG and vitamin B14
michael, you researched the effects of temperature on the growth plate?
Will the cold is anabolic for chondrocytes?
because people in cold countries are much taller?
Matheus what routine are you doing, are you doing LSJL, what do you think about TMG?
Japan is a cold country but are Japanese taller than middle-east people which is a hotter country?
Matheus have you got an email i can contact you on?
Micheal have you been in touch with Tyler recently, do you know if he’s performing LSJL and if you do a podcast with him what will you be asking him? Please answer last one because theirs a few things that i want you to ask him
Here’s the thing about this. While you are correct that a lot of people are already getting some K2 from foods, the big difference is in the dose. Most foods (Natto being an exception) have less than 100mcg of K2 per serving. That is only .1mg, as in a tiny fraction of the dose taken by this person. And I’ve seen some articles that claim many people don’t get enough K2.
While on the subject of K2 and height, I don’t know if you’ve seen this. While this person may still have had open growth plates, she grew taller after taking K2 and D3. http://30bananasadaysucks.com/2012/07/growing-taller-in-your-20s-and-k2/
Hmm, interesting. It sounds like she may have grown an inch or two from the MK-4. Not a huge difference. It sounds likes this is probably real, but that it does not happen often. It is probably more likely to happen in someone who did not grow to their full height before puberty. Animal consumption is known to increase height in ethnic / national groups. I would guess this happens in a small minority of cases, perhaps even quite rarely. But the growth in width is pretty common. I believe MK-7 caused my bones to shrink dramatically because I was low in Vitamin D and not supplementing. So the notion that it would cause them to fill out when taken in balance makes sense. It’s crazy scary to me to see my bones shrink so rapidly. It was very rapid. All my bones got sharper. I lost weight. I had osteomalacia. Joint pain. Pain in the top of my skull. The skull near my ear. Inside my ears. Toes, hands, elbows, sternum, rib cage. I’m even afraid I have a lump in my breast, but I think it’s just bone that became more noticeable.
I’m assuming you are female?
Hi Louche
this is scary. How old are you ?
any other side effects?
It is over a year. Any improvement?
Pingback: Reverse Low Bone Density aka Osteopenia Leads To Height Increase In Older Women
Why would MK7 have caused your bones to shrink?
Pingback: Does DHEA Dehydroepiandrosterone Help People Grow Taller and Increase Height? - Natural Height Growth
Hi
Is there evidence to support Vitamin K2 being responsible for growing teeth bone?
I read somewhere someone had reported bone growing where previously there was periodontal disease, and even spaces between the teeth disappearing, eliminating the need for braces. Anyone?
I have had chronic bad pain for three years now. For the past two weeks and a half, I have been taking 100mcg of vitamin K2 MK-7. My back pain has been reduced 80%. My joints are at its smoothest in 8 years. I have had a dent in the back of my head since I was child since I bumped my head onto something and injured it. When I started taking K2, I had a sharp pain around that area; however, that pain went away. That pain is very similar to growing pain during puberty. However, after the pain went away, the dent is now 80% filled. So I’m assuming that pain is bone growing. I have also grown half an inch. I assume this is because my spine is not as compressed as it was before I started taking vitamin K2.
Thanks for bringing all this information together! I would love to know the ages of those who have experienced any kind of growth in height or repair/ filling in of bone while use k2! I would especially like to know the particulars of those who had improvements in dental and joint health! Growing of periodontal bone would be amazing for a lot of people!