Vitamin K is needed for the production of prothrombin which is necessary for blood clotting. It is also essential for bone formation and repair; it is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin, the protein in bone tissue on which calcium crystallizes. Consequently, it may help prevent osteoporosis.
Vitamin k plays important role in the intestine and aids in converting glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver, promoting healthy liver function. It may increase resistance to infection in children and help prevent cancers that target the inner linings of the organs. It aids in promoting longevity. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause abnormal and/or internal bleeding.
These are three forms of vitamin K. The first is vitamin K1 (phylloquinone or phytonadione), which comes from plants and makes up your dietary vitamin K. The second is vitamin K2, a family of substances called bacteria and also found in butter, cow liver, chicken, egg yolks, fermented soybean products, and some cheese. Third, there is vitamin K3 (menadione), which is synthetic, man made substance.
Vitamin K deficiency can be caused by any of the following:
- A poor diet
- Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
- Liver disease that interferes vitamin K storage
- The use of antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering drugs, mineral oil, aspirin and blood thinners
Low blood levels of vitamin K are associated with insulin release and glucose regulation problems, and may lead to low bone density in women. Supplementing the diet with this vitamin enhances then bone building process by attracting calcium to the bone. Supplemental vitamin K also reduces the amount of calcium in the urine and frees up more calcium to be used by the bone-building process.
Vitamin K
