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“Vitamin K facts”
Interesting facts about vitamin K:
Vitamin K is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, which means in order for it to be adequately absorbed into the body, the food rich in vitamin K needs to be eaten with some fat at the same time to ensure absorption.
The most important function of vitamin K is its ability to help create substances called prothrombin (factor II), the most important of the clotting factors. Prothrombin helps the blood clot whenever there is any injury to any tissues in the body. Prothrombin gets converted into fibrin (through a serious of conversion in between), the anti-clotting substance the body uses to create blood clotting and stem the flow of blood due to injury (either external or internal), which starts the healing process.
Most of the vitamin K in the body is concentrated in the liver, where it makes the blood clotting substance. There is also some vitamin K in the bones, kidneys, pancreas and the vascular system.
Vitamin K is necessary for ensuring proper bone growth, by allowing the bones to retain their calcium and allow for more bone growth and development, reducing the amount of bone destruction. Studies have shown that vitamin K helps to reduce loss of bone density, which is related to the development of osteoporosis. Studies also show that if osteoporosis has started, vitamin K supplementation (together with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D) may help to slow down the disease more so than if the vitamin K was not added.
Vitamin K can be created in the small intestine by "good" bacteria, if it is in short supply in the diet, which is normally obtained from plant-based foods.
Vitamin K is naturally found in two forms - vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) found in plant foods and vitamin K2 (menaquinone) found in the small intestine and it is created by the gut-friendly bacteria. There is also a synthetic form of vitamin K, called vitamin K3 (Menadione), but care should be taken with this form of vitamin K as it can easily cause more severe toxicity symptoms.
Recent research shows that vitamin K destroys cancer cells of tumours and prevents them from growing any further. This means that vitamin K has antineoplastic (anti tumour growth) properties. Research also suggests that vitamin K helps cancer patients survive longer by enhancing the effects of radiation therapy on the tumour cells of the cancer. This research into vitamin K's effects on cancer are ongoing.
Vitamin K is given to people whose blood does not clot properly and who may have a bleeding disorder (such as haemophilia) to help their blood function properly and produce the clotting factor and clot.
Disclaimer: The advice on this site should be viewed as a general guideline only and it should not replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your medical or health care provider to get the advice and care for your particular and individual health, nutrition, diet and fitness circumstances.