Vitamin K2 may lower liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

“Our doctor says there is nothing can be done for him.”

That chilling comment appeared in an e-mail from an HSI member named Sharon whose husband has non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. She writes: “His platelets are very low. I give him 1,000 mg vitamin B12 and folic acid.”

Sharon is on the right track. Unless her husband’s condition is advanced to an extreme degree, those nutrients may be very helpful. And contrary to her doctor’s opinion, there is something that can be done for her husband. I asked HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., if he had any advice in this matter and he sent me the following note.

“I’d continue the B-12 and folic acid DAILY, but make sure the B-12 is sub-lingual, as orally ingested doesn’t work well. As far as I’m concerned the folic acid should be upped to 5 milligrams/day (that’s 6 of the 0.8 mg tablets), but that’s just me.

“Then, I’d start standardized milk thistle extract in high doses, along with NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), and either L-glutamine or undenatured whey protein, in high-gram doses.

“I’d also stop any and all drugs possible (with the doc’s permission), to ease the stress on the liver. This should be easy, since they’ve already said nothing can be done.

“The above are high-powered nutrients aimed at the liver, including the easiest formation of glutathione, which the body needs for all sorts of rebuilding tasks.

“In a situation such as this, I’d also suggest being monitored by a health care professional versed in nutrient therapies. The ultimate would be intravenous administration of such nutrients, which bypass the digestive tract. You’d also want to track down the likely cause of such damage, as it does not tend to be spontaneous.”

To Dr. Spreen’s list I would add one item: vitamin K.

In the e-Alert “Special K” (3/1/05), I told you how patients with cirrhosis of the liver have a high risk of developing liver cancer. But according to a Japanese study, increased intake of vitamin K2 may significantly lower this cancer risk among cirrhosis patients.

Vitamin K1 (found in chestnut leaves, fish meal, kale, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, olive oil and avocados) is converted into K2 in the intestine. But we also get vitamin K2 in meat, liver, egg yolk and fermented products such as yogurt and cheese.