VITAMIN 'K' FACTS

                             VITAMIN 'K' FACTS

Vitamin K plays a key role in helping the clot formation and preventing excessive bleeding. Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin K isn't typically used as a dietary supplementation. Vitamin K refers to a family of fat-soluble vitamins that produce a protein called prothrombin, which promotes blood coagulation and regulates bone metabolism.

Vitamin K is really a group of compounds. The foremost important of those compounds appears to be vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Vitamin K1 is obtained from leafy greens and a few other vegetables.

 Vitamin K2 may be a group of compounds largely obtained from meats, cheeses and eggs and synthesized by bacteria. Body needs both sorts of vitamin K to supply prothrombin, a protein that plays crucial roles in blood coagulation, bone metabolism and heart health. Vitamin K also helps facilitate energy production within the mitochondria of cells. Vitamin K has antioxidant properties. It protects cellular membranes from damage due to excess free radicals, during a process referred to as peroxidation. Blood thinning medication, like warfarin, can lower the anti-oxidative potential of vitamin K.

NATURAL SOURCES OF vitamin K

Bacteria within the alimentary canal naturally make vitamin K . Dietary sources of vitamin K include

Green Leafy Vegetables i.e.

•        Collards
•          Green Leaf Lettuce
•          Kale
•          Mustard
•          Parsley
•          Romaine Lettuce
•          Spinach
•          Swiss chard
•          Greens

And Other Vegetables like

•          Broccoli
•          Brussels Sprouts
•          Cauliflower
•          Cabbage.

BENEFITS OF VITAMIN K

Vitamin K is a crucial think about bone health and wound healing. Vitamin K may be a vitamin that creates proteins for healthy bones and normal blood coagulation. Vitamin K helps produce four of the 13 proteins needed for blood coagulation. Vitamin K also teams up with other vitamins. Vitamin K works with vitamin D to make sure that calcium finds its way to the bones to assist them develop properly.

VITAMIN K DEFICIENCY

Vitamin K deficiency is rare but those with deficiency are unable to properly absorb the vitamin K made naturally within the intestinal tract. People that have severe gastrointestinal disorders, like gallbladder disease, CF disease and celiac or Crohn’s disease are unable to properly absorb vitamin K. In order that they are more vulnerable to being deficient. Vitamin K supplements are useful for these medical conditions.

Patients who take antibiotics for an extended period of your time can also experience a scarcity of vitamin K because antibiotics kill the bacteria that make vitamin K.

Babies aren't born with the bacteria that make vitamin K and breast milk isn't an honest source of the vitamin so newborn babies in many developed countries are given shots of vitamin K to stop internal and external bleeding.

People taking blood thinners like Coumadin need to take care with what proportion vitamin K they ingest in things like leafy greens because it can decrease the efficacy of the medication they take.

SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN K INTAKE

Along with its needed effects, vitamin K may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of those side effects may occur but if they are doing occur they'll need medical attention.

• Decreased appetite
• Decreased movement or activity
• Difficulty in breathing
• Enlarged liver
• General body swelling
• Irritability
• Muscle stiffness
• Paleness
• Yellow eyes or skin

DOSING

The following doses are studied in research project

Adults

Oral route

For weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis), Vitamin K2 has been taken in doses of 45 mg daily. Also vitamin K1 has been taken in doses of 1-10 mg daily.

For a rare inherited bleeding disorder (vitamin K-dependent clotting factors deficiency or VKCFD): 10 mg of vitamin K has been taken 2-3 times weekly.

For reversing the blood thinning effects of warfarin: one dose of 1-5 mg of vitamin K1 is usually wont to reverse the consequences of taking an excessive amount of warfarin. The precise dose needed is decided by a lab test called the INR. Daily doses of 100-200 micro grams of vitamin K are used for people taking warfarin long-term who have unstable blood coagulation.

PARENTERAL ROUTE

For a rare, inherited bleeding disorder (vitamin K-dependent clotting factors deficiency): 10 mg of vitamin K has been injected into the vein. How often these injections are given is decided by a lab test called the INR.

For reversing the blood thinning effects of warfarin: one dose of 0.5-3 mg of vitamin K1 is usually used. The precise dose needed is decided by a lab test.

Children

Oral route

For bleeding problems in newborns with low levels of vitamin K (hemorrhagic disease): 1-2 mg of vitamin K1 has been given in three doses over 8 weeks. Also single doses containing 1 mg of vitamin K1, 5 mg of vitamin K2.

PARENTERAL ROUTE

For bleeding problems in newborns with low levels of vitamin K (hemorrhagic disease): 1 mg of vitamin K1 has been given as an attempt into the muscle.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin K is an essential need of our body as it plays major role in blood clotting, wound healing and bone development. Its deficiency leads to the development of severe bleeding disorders which may cause severe hemorrhage and even death. So body needs of Vitamin K should be fulfilled.