What is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is needed for proper bone formation and blood clotting. In both cases, vitamin K does this by helping the body transport calcium. Vitamin K is used by doctors when treating an overdose of the drug warfarin. Also, doctors prescribe vitamin K to prevent excessive bleeding in people taking warfarin but requiring surgery.
Where is it found?
Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, collards, and broccoli, are the best sources of vitamin K. The greener the plant, the higher the vitamin K content.1 Other significant dietary sources of vitamin K include soybean oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, and canola oil.2
What are the historical uses of Vitamin K?
A vitamin K deficiency, which causes uncontrolled bleeding, is rare, except in people with certain malabsorption diseases. However, there are reports of severe vitamin K deficiency developing in hospitalized patients who had poor food intake and were receiving antibiotics.3All newborn infants receive vitamin K to prevent deficiencies that sometimes develop in breast-fed infants.
How much Vitamin K is usually taken?
The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin K is about 1 mcg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day or about 65 to 80 mcg per day for most adults.4 This level of intake may be achieved by consuming adequate amounts of leafy green vegetables. However, studies have shown that many men and women aged 18 to 44 years ingest less than the recommended amount of vitamin K.5 6
Are there any side effects of Vitamin K?
Allergic reactions to vitamin K injections have been reported on rare occasions.7
Vitamin K facilitates the effects of calcium in building bone and proper blood clotting.
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