Vitamin K

What is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is primarily associated with its role in blood coagulation and clotting. It also binds calcium and therefore helps in building bone strength, and is also believed to protect against osteoporosis and prevent cell damage. Humans can produce vitamin K from certain bacteria that live in the intestines as the result of a normal diet.

What are the health benefits of Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is helpful for blood coagulation and clotting, helps build bones, prevents cell damage, and is believed to protect against osteoporosis. It is rare for a person with a healthy, standard diet to suffer from vitamin K deficiency, but it may happen as the result of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver disease, or gall bladder disease. When one experiences vitamin K deficiency, they may experience a disorder of blood clotting processes and therefore may suffer from bleeding that doesn’t stop.

What foods are good sources of Vitamin K?
Vitamin K can be found in a number of green, leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, parsley, and lettuce. It can also be found in broccoli, avocados, kiwifruit, green tea, soybean and canola oils, egg yolks, beef, chicken, and liver.

What are the guidelines for taking Vitamin K?
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends 120 micrograms of vitamin K for men and 90 micrograms of vitamin K for women.

Are there any precautions for taking Vitamin K?
While it is difficult to consume excessive amounts of vitamin K, doing so may lead to sweating, anemia, and jaundice.


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