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All About Vitamin K
Vitamin K Benefits What is this vitamin and why do we need it? Vit K is a fat soluble vitamin like A, D and E, which means it will be absorbed better when taken in with fatty foods. However, one exception to this rule is that the fat soluble vitamins won't be absorbed well if taken with mineral oil. Vit K is required for the proper clotting of blood. The blood coagulation system is a complicated pathway of chemical reactions. One of those reactions is dependent on the presence of Vit K. It may also be helpful in maintaining bone density, especially in the elderly. Sources Vit K is mostly found in green and leafy vegetables including cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower and spinach. It can also be found in soybeans and other vegetables and in fortified cereals. It is produced by certain bacteria in the digestive tract. Most importantly, it is produced and processed in the liver. Vitamin K Deficiency In healthy individuals, Vit K deficiency is rare, but it can occur in severely malnourished patients, or rarely, in patients who have been on long-term antibiotics. Most of us who eat a reasonable diet and are healthy otherwise are never going to have to worry about this. It commonly occurs in patients with severe liver disease, because the liver is required for processing Vit K so that it can be used in the coagulation of blood. The main problem that occurs in Vit K deficiency is that the clotting mechanism doesn't work and bleeding risk is markedly increased. Administering vitamin supplements is sometimes helpful if the liver disease is not too severe. Many patients have to take a blood "thinner", called Warfarin, for various reasons in order to prevent excessive blood clotting. (It's not really a blood thinner like turpentine is for paint. It just has an inhibitory effect on blood clotting.) If, the patient who is on Warfarin has any problem with excessive bleeding, Vit K is often administered as the antidote to Warfarin to help reverse its blood thinning effect. Again, most of us don't have to worry about Vit K. It's another one of those things that our bodies take care of automatically for us. From Vitamin K to The Nutrition Guide
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