Vitamin K : Benefits, Daily Allowance, Sources & Supplement

Vitamin K: Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin which unlike many other vitamins not typically used as a dietary supplement. It is a group of components which includes vegetable obtained K1 and animals source obtained K2. It is also known as phylloquinone.

Recommended daily allowance of vitamin K

• 0-6 months -> 2micrograms/day
• 7-12 months -> 2.5micrograms/day
• 1-3 years -> 30micrograms/day
• 4-13 years -> 55-60micrograms/day
• 14-18 years -> 75micrograms/day
• 19+ years -> 90micrograms/day(women)
• 120micrograms/day(men).

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Sources of vitamin K

• Kale, spinach, swiss, chard, mustard, turnip, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, asparagus, avocado, kiwi, grapes, parsley, soybean, strawberries.
• Egg, meat, cheese, liver, beans.

Importance of vitamin K

• It inhibits arterial calcification and stiffening.
• It can slow the growth of the tumor.
•  It is a part of treatments for coumarin poisoning.
• It is used in monotherapy of osteoporosis.
• It activates the production of blood clotting proteins.
• Vitamin K related modification of the proteins allows them to bind calcium ions.

Deficiency syndrome of vitamin K

•  Inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Liver damage.
• Coagulopathy.
• Anaemia.
• Bruising.
• Bleeding from gums and/or none.
• Heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Osteoporosis.
• Coronary heart disease.
• Aortic Calcification.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Crohn’s disease.
•  Hemodialysis.

Toxicity of vitamin K

•  Kidney failure.
• Hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. Reduce bile secretion.
• Reduce bile secretion. Possible interaction with phenytoin, warfarin
• Possible interaction with phenytoin, warfarin