Vitamin K For Healthy Bones And Blood Clotting!

K vitamin is a fat soluble vitamin. It is important part of your daily diet.

Our body stores very little of K vitamin. If you are not taking proper K vitamin, your body can be quickly depleted of it.

K vitamin activates three or more proteins that are involved in the health of your bones. This helps to keep the integrity of bones in a working order.

The bone mineralization process that is aided by the intake of D vitamin is also enhanced by the consumption of K vitamin.

K vitamin hypothesizes to prevent calcification of soft tissue as well as cartilage which is an important function. If you maintain the vitamin K levels normally, your bone growth and development is increased.

The main function of K vitamin present in your diet is blood clotting. K vitamin helps to bind calcium ions which is an important process without which clotting will not be possible.

This vitamin is found in nature in two forms: K1, also called as phylloquinone, is found in plants and K2, also called as menaquinone which can be synthesized by many bacteria. Vitamin K3 or menadione is a synthetic form which is manmade.

Vitamin K deficiency:

Side effects can occur due to the vitamin K deficiency. The main sign of vitamin K deficiency is blood clotting. The clotting time can be tested by the blood tests which can be tested in labs.

But, symptoms are noticeable such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood found in the urine, easy bruising, or blood found in the stool. Vitamin K is found in so many foods you eat, so deficiencies are uncommon and are usually the results of another factor.

People with liver damage or disease are unable to utilize the benefits of K vitamin resulting in a deficiency. Infants drink formula is recommended due to the fact that breast milk is uncommonly low in vitamin K compared to formula.

Therefore vitamin K deficiency in infants can lead to hemorrhages inside the brain which can be life threatening.

Sources of vitamin K:

You can get vitamin K through a healthy diet which can be found in soybean oil, olive oil, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, kale and mayonnaise. With this diet changes, you can get vitamin K that your body needs.

Vitamin K dosage:

Toxicity is rare with this vitamin. But, you should not take doses of more than 500 micrograms without consulting your doctor. This vitamin interferes with the effectiveness of medications such as anticoagulants, so talk to your doctor before taking this vitamin supplement.

If you take synthetic compound vitamin K3, toxicity can occur. Flushing and sweating can occur with synthetic form. Jaundice and anemia can also develop.

This vitamin can be destroyed by freezing and radiation as well as air pollution. Its absorption is decreased when bad fats are present as well as antibiotics, high dosages of vitamin E, refined sugar or calcium.