Why Your Body Needs Vitamin K
Why Your Body Needs Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is found in three different forms:
K1, called phylloquinone, found in plants; K2, menaquinone, which is
produced by bacterial action; and, Vitamin K3, called menadione, the
synthetic or manmade form of Vitamin K.
The human body needs Vitamin K to induce blood clotting by synthesizing
the liver protein that controls the clotting. It is involved in creating
prothrombin, a blood-clotting agent. Why is blood clotting important? Well
without it, you can bleed to death if you’re bruised!
Aside from its blood clotting role, Vitamin K also helps with bone
formation and repair. It has an important function in the intestines, where
it assists in converting glucose to glycogen.
Some studies show that Vitamin K can decrease the severity of
osteoporosis and even delay the process of bone loss!
The best sources of Vitamin K are leafy vegetables, cheese, liver,
asparagus, coffee, bacon, and green tea.
Vitamin K Deficiency
A shortage of this vitamin may manifest itself in nosebleeds and internal
bleeding.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 80 micrograms for males
and 70 micrograms for females per day.
An overdose of Vitamin K can only happen if K3 or the synthetic version
is taken. This may result in flushing and profuse sweating. Jaundice and
anemia may also develop.
Are you taking an anti-coagulant or anti-clotting agent? Then it’s not
recommended that you take Vitamin K.
Like Vitamin A, Vitamin K is fat, not water-soluble and therefore does not
flush easily out of the body through the urinary tract. This condition
also causes the vitamin to be more easily obtainable in food as cooking
will not cause the nutrient to evaporate much too quickly.