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The vitamin K present in plant foods is called phylloquinone; while the form of the vitamin present in animal foods is called menaquinone. Both of these vitamins are absorbed from the diet and converted to an active form called dihydrovitamin K.
Source
Vitamin K deficiency can be prevented by assuring that the diet contains foods such as green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, broccoli), alfalfa, brussels sprouts and cabbage, which are good sources, containing about 8mg/kg. Cow's milk is also a good source of the vitamin, as are soy foods, egg yolks, and cauliflower. Soybean oil, canola oil and olive oil are good sources of the vitamin, while corn oil and peanut oil are very poor sources.
A portion of the body's vitamin K is supplied by bacteria living in the intestine rather than by dietary sources.
Function; Reasons For Use
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble set of molecules that are required for the health of the human population. First discovered in the treatment of chicks with hemorrhagic diseases, vitamin K is vitally involved in the process of blood clotting. Three forms of biologically active vitamin K are known, they are menadione, phylloquinone, and menaquinone-7. Not only is vitamin K involved in the synthesis of clotting factors VII, IX, and X; it is also involved in the conversion of pre-prothrombin to prothrombin (the precursor to thrombin), which is important in fibrin blood clot formation.
The most common deficiency of vitamin K is at birth since vitamin K does not traverse well through the placenta, nor through breast milk. It is very common to give an intramuscular vitamin K shot to newborns for this reason.
When needed for the correction of prolonged bleeding due to over-anticoagulation with warfarin, oral vitamin K (1-5mg) was found to be as effective as IV administration, but had a slower onset of action. [Br J Haematol 2001;115(1): pp.145-149]
Directions
The US RDA recommends 1mcg of vitamin K per kilogram of weight per day. This means a person weighing 165 lbs (75 kilos) should ingest 75mcg of vitamin K daily. The RDA for vitamin K is 80mcg for adult males, 65mcg for adult females, and 5mcg for newborn infants.
Counter-Indicators and Warnings
People on any drug that is intended to change the blood clotting time, like coumadin, should contact their physician before taking large amounts of vitamin K.
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Vitamin K can help with the following:
Vitamin K can help prevent the following: | | | | | Musculo-Skeletal |  Osteoporosis - Osteopenia | Not enough vitamin K in the system is a predisposing risk factor for osteoporosis. New research has shown that this little known vitamin is the key to calcium balance in the body. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help |  | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Bacteria (Bacterial, Bacterium)
Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Bruise (Bruised, Bruising)
Injury producing a hematoma or diffuse extravasation of blood without breaking the skin.
Calcium
The body's most abundant mineral. Its primary function is to help build and maintain bones and teeth. The body also needs calcium to carry nerve signals, keep the heart functioning, contract muscles, clot blood and maintain healthy skin. Calcium helps control blood acid-alkaline balance, plays a role in cell division, muscle growth and iron utilization, activates certain enzymes, and helps transport nutrients through cell membranes. Calcium also forms a cellular cement called ground substance that helps hold cells and tissues together.
Chemotherapy
A treatment of disease by any chemicals. Used most often to refer to the chemical treatments used to combat cancer cells. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles: a treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period, and so on. Most anticancer drugs are given by injection into a blood vessel (IV); some are given by mouth. Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy, meaning that the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Usually, a patient has chemotherapy as an outpatient (at the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home). However, depending on which drugs are given and the patient's general health, a short hospital stay may be needed.
Clotting Factors (Clotting Factor)
Substances in the bloodstream, especially vitamin K, that are important in the process of blood clotting. Prolonged bleeding is produced when these substances are absent.
Kilogram (kg, kgs, Kilogramme, Kilogrammes, Kilograms)
1000 grams, 2.2lbs.
Lymphoma (Lymphomas)
Any tumor of the lymphatic tissues.
Menorrhagia
Abnormally heavy and/or long menstrual period.
Menstruation (Menses, Menstrual, Menstrual Cycle, Menstrual Cycles, Menstrual Flow, Menstrual Phase, Monthly Cycle)
The periodic discharge of blood, tissue fluid and mucus from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that usually lasts from 3 - 5 days. It is caused by a sudden reduction in estrogens and progesterone.
Microgram (mcg, Micrograms, ug)
0.000001 or a millionth of a gram.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Pound (lb, lbs)
454 grams, or about half a kilogram.
Precursor (Precursors)
A biochemical substance, such as an intermediate compound in a chain of enzymatic reactions, from which a more stable or definitive product is formed.
Protein (Proteins)
Compounds composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen present in the body and in foods that form complex combinations of amino acids. Protein is essential for life and is used for growth and repair. Foods that supply the body with protein include animal products, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Proteins from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Proteins are changed to amino acids in the body.
Prothrombin
Protein needed for clotting of the blood.
RDA (RDAs, US RDA, USRDA)
Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamins or other nutrients as determined by the FDA. U.S. RDAs are more widely used than RDAs, and focus on 3 age groups: Infants of 0-12 months; Children of 1-4 years; Adults and children of more than 4 years.
Vitamin K
Helps the blood clot when the body is injured.
Last updated: Nov 14, 2009
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