Vitamin K is a member of the fat-soluble family of vitamins along with vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin A.
It's essential for normal blood clotting -- in fact, the 'K' comes from the German word 'Koagulation' (coagulation).
People who have higher levels of vitamin K in their blood tend to have greater bone density while low levels of vitamin K are associated with osteoporosis. It appears that getting enough vitamin K will also help to keep your bones healthy as you age.
Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and soybeans are all excellent sources of vitamin K. It's also synthesized by friendly bacteria in your digestive tract.
Your body stores vitamin K in your liver and fat tissue, so a deficiency is rare. But it may occur after long-term use of antibiotics or as a result of diseases that harm your digestive tract's ability to absorb nutrients. Symptoms include easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stool, or extremely heavy menstrual periods.
The Health and Medicine Division of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sets the daily suggested adequate intakes of vitamins and minerals based on the needs of the average healthy person. The AI for vitamin K varies based on age and sex. The suggested intake doesn't change for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have any health conditions, you may wish to speak to your doctor about your daily need for vitamin K.
Adequate Intakes
Males
- 1 to 3 years: 30 micrograms per day
- 4 to 8 years: 55 micrograms per day
- 9 to 13 years: 60 micrograms per day
- 14 to 18 years: 75 micrograms per day
- 19+ years: 120 micrograms per day
Females
- 1 to 3 years: 30 micrograms per day
- 4 to 8 years: 55 micrograms per day
- 9 to 13 years: 60 micrograms per day
- 14 to 18 years: 75 micrograms per day
- 19+ years: 90 micrograms per day
Vitamin K is naturally found in one of four forms:
- Phylloquinone, or K1
- Phytonadione is a synthetic type of K1
- Menaquinone, or K2
- Menadione, or vitamin K3, is another synthetic form
Phylloquinone is made by plants and is the bulk of the dietary vitamin K. It's found in green, leafy vegetables, okra, asparagus, prunes, avocado, canola, olive and soybean oils.
Menaquinone is made by probiotic bacteria in the digestive tracts of animals and is found in small amounts in meat, fish, and fermented foods. Menadione is a synthetic form of vitamin K and is not used in humans.
Babies born in the U.S. and Canada are given vitamin K shots when they are born because they don't have the right bacteria living in their digestive tracts and breast milk doesn't offer enough vitamin K.
Adults usually don't need vitamin K supplements, but it's often found in multivitamins. Vitamin K supplements should not be taken if you're on certain medications such as blood thinners.
The Institute of Medicine has not been able to determine a tolerable upper level for vitamin K, so if you are thinking about taking it as a supplement, please speak with your doctor first.
Content Courtesy:- https://www.verywellfit.com
|
.jpg)
