Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is very important for blood clotting. The human organism stores fat-soluble vitamins in fatty tissue, as well as this vitamin. The title "K" comes from the German word "koagulation" (blood clotting). Vitamin K is necessary for the functioning of several proteins entrained in blood clotting.
There are two naturally forms of vitamin K. Vitamin K can be synthesized in phylloquinone form by plants. Bacteria can synthesize a range of vitamin K forms inside the gastrointestinal tract. In fact without vitamin K blood would not clot.
The major dietary form of vitamin K is phylloquinone. We usually get it with green food. Green leafy vegetables and some vegetable oils (such as olive, cottonseed, canola) are major source of vitamin K. Vitamin K is abundant in cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and other green vegetables, cereals, soybeans, and some other vegetables. Vitamin K can be also made in the gastrointestinal tract by bacteria. This form of vitamin plays an important role for the human organism, because its quantity is directly concerned with the ability of the intestines to synthesize the necessary nutritive substances.
Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency include easy bruising and bleeding, the lack of vitamin K makes itself evident in the fact that as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, blood in the stool or extremely heavy menstrual bleeding. Vitamin K deficiency may result in life-threatening bleedings in little children.
In sober fact vitamin K deficiency is very rare. It occurs only to the extent that the body can't properly absorb the vitamin from the intestines. Vitamin K deficiency can also be caused by the antibiotics treatment.
The optimal recipe to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to keep a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods especially leafy vegetables. The necessary dosage for vitamin K depends upon the age and body weight.
Infants, babies
• 0 - 6 months: 2.0 micrograms per day
• 7 - 12 months: 2.5 mcg/day
Children
• 1 - 3 years: 30 mcg/day
• 4 - 8 years: 55 mcg/day
• 9 - 13 years: 60 mcg/day
Yearlings and Adults
• Males and females about 14 - 18: 75 mcg/day
• Males and females about 19 and older: 90 mcg/day
If you take any anticoagulants, you should know that vitamin K or foods containing vitamin K can affect how the drug works. Consult your physician how much vitamin K-containing foods you should expend.