Vitamin K is a vitamin responsible for proper blood clotting. In the blood of a he althy person, there are numerous vitamin K-dependent clotting factors that are involved in clot formation and inhibit bleeding. What other functions does vitamin K perform in the body? In what products does it appear? What are the symptoms and effects of vitamin K deficiency and excess in the body?

Vitamin Kis a substance that occurs naturally in two forms - vitamin K1, synthesized by plants (phytoquinone) and vitamin K2, (menaquinone) synthesized by bacteria. Vitamin K plays an important role primarily in the process ofblood clotting,reducing excessive menstrual bleeding. However, it has been shown that vitamin K can also inhibit the growth of neoplasms, has a significant impact on calcium metabolism and proper bone calcification.

Why do we need vitamin K?

Vitamin K is needed for the production of prothrombin (factor II) in the liver, which is essential for blood clotting. Also other clotting factors (VII, IX, X) produced in the liver require the presence of vitamin K.

With a deficiency of prothrombin or any of the above-mentioned factors, the blood clots slowly or not at all, and even a small cut may cause prolonged bleeding.

Vitamin K belongs to the group of vitamins that are not soluble in water, only in fats. Therefore, the latter are needed for the process of its absorption.

Vitamin K is important not only for blood clotting, it also affects the uptake of calcium by bones. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. A longer vitamin K deficiency can lead to the formation of osteoporosis - then bones become brittle and break easily.

Fortunately, such deficiencies are rare and he althy people do not need supplements.

Important

The use of vitamin K in a supplement should be agreed with your doctor, who will recommend the correct dose. Essentially, vitamin K is not toxic, but an overdose of it can cause red blood cell breakdown, anemia, sweating, feeling hot, heartache, spikes in blood pressure, and in babies jaundice and cell damage.

Vitamin K - deficiency in newborns and adults

Sometimes only newborns don't get enough vitamin K because it's in their intestinesthere are no bacteria that produce it yet. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding can lead to Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) bleeding.

Therefore, after birth, the child receives a prophylactic injection of one dose of vitamin K. It is administered to infants in two daily doses orally up to the third month of life.

The daily requirement of vitamin K in infants is 5-10 mcg / kg body weight / day.

Vitamin K deficiency in adults occurs in the case of severe intestinal and liver diseases and with long-term treatment with antibiotics. Drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels inhibit the absorption of vitamin K.

In the elderly, heart disease or stroke patients taking anticoagulants, its effect is blocked, which can cause osteoporosis. Long-term use of these drugs increases bone fractures.

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Vitamin K - dosage

The consumption norms were set at the level of sufficient consumption (AI) and expressed in µg / person / day

  • infants - 5-10 µg
  • children: from 1 to 3 years of age - 15 µg; from 4 to 6 years of age - 20 µg; from 7 to 9 years of age - 25 µg
  • boys: from 10 to 12 years old - 40 µg; from 13 to 15 years of age - 50 µg; up to 16 to 18 years of age - 65 µg
  • girls: from 10 to 12 years old - 40 µg; from 13 to 15 years of age - 50 µg; up to 16 to 18 years of age - 55 µg
  • men - 65 µg
  • women - 55 µg
  • pregnant and lactating women - 55 µg

Source: Nutrition standards for the Polish population - amendment, Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw 2012

Vitamin K - sources. What products contain vitamin K?

The first form of it, called vitamin K1 , occurs e.g. in green-leafed vegetables, strawberries, soybean oil and some animal products (e.g. eggs, beef liver). The content of vitamin K1 in green vegetables is proportional to the content of chlorophyll (green plant pigment). Therefore, the most (>100 mg / 100 g) can be found in:

  • kale
  • broccoli
  • lettuce
  • spinach
  • Brussels sprouts

Parsley, chard, cabbage, cauliflower, beef liver and some vegetable oils and nuts are also good sources of it. It is least concentrated in meat, milk and dairy products, as well as cereals and fruit.

The next form of the vitamin - vitamin K2- is produced by bacteria in the intestines. In turn, artificially produced vitamin K, called K3 , is used forsupplementing deficiencies and may be in a fat-soluble or water-soluble form.

See what vegetables are rich in Vitamin K!

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Vitamin K

Jacek Bilczyński talks about the role of vitamin K.

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He alth