Vitamin K - Role, Deficiency, Daily Requirement

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. This vitamin is stored in small doses in the liver, tends to break down in the light and in alkaline solutions. Vitamin K was discovered in 1935 by the Danish scientist Henry Dam. For his discovery, he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Dam found out that the vitamin is important for coagulation (blood clotting), as a result of which he was awarded the letter k.

In nature, vitamins of the K group are presented in two forms:

• Plant phylloquinone (k1);
• Bacterial menaquinone (k2).

Phylloquinone regulates blood clotting processes in the body, accelerates wound healing and stops bleeding. It is essential for the proper functioning of liver cells. In the case of a shortage of plant phylloquinone, the production of many blood components involved in coagulation processes decreases, and capillary permeability increases.

The main reason for the deficiency of phylloquinone in humans is a violation of its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract due to disorders in the hepatobiliary system or due to intestinal diseases.

Lack of vitamin in young children leads to hemorrhagic disease.

The alimentary factor does not play a significant role in the formation of a deficiency of vitamins of group K. This is due to their widespread prevalence in food products, as well as their high resistance to heat treatment.

The role of vitamin K in the body

Vitamin K is an enzyme vitamin, hormone vitamin and antioxidant. It is important for blood clotting. At the moment, it has been proven that the blood clotting process requires the presence of at least 10 active proteins, the synthesis of 5 of which directly depends on the presence of K vitamins in the body.

The vitamin is essential for the liver to produce prothrombin (a substance that helps blood clots) and stops internal bleeding. In addition, the vitamin helps to retain calcium in the bone tissue.

Lack of vitamin K in the body

The only documented symptom of vitamin deficiency is hemorrhage (free bleeding).

Under normal conditions, a deficiency of vitamin K in humans is almost impossible, since the bacteria in the intestine constantly produce it in small quantities, which go directly into the bloodstream. In addition, the vitamin is present in many plant foods.

However, since vitamin K is fat-soluble, a small amount of fat must be present in the intestines for its normal absorption.

Hypovitaminosis can cause:

• Intestinal dysbiosis (for example, after treatment with sulfonamides and antibiotics);
• Lack of bile acids necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (for example, in the pathology of the biliary tract or liver);
• Poisoning with antivitamins K (third generation cephalosporins, coumarin anticoagulants).

You can find hypovitaminosis in newborns, when on the 2-4th day of life there is bleeding from the umbilical residue, melena, metrorrhagia, and in especially severe cases - hemorrhage in the liver, adrenal glands, brain, lungs. This is due to the fact that newborns' intestines are sterile, that is, vitamin K is not synthesized by the microflora.

Despite the fact that human milk contains little of this vitamin, breastfeeding can provide the baby with maternal coagulation factors and reduce the risk of developing hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

Today, in most hospitals, newborns are injected immediately after birth to prevent deficiency.

Excess vitamin K

Even with excessive vitamin intake, toxic side effects are extremely rare.

The introduction of a synthetic vitamin can lead to yellowing of the eyes and skin, an increase in bilirubin in the blood, and hemolytic anemia.

Daily need for vitamin K

A healthy adult needs a daily intake of 120 mcg of the vitamin. With dietary nutrition, the need is from 0.12 to 0.36 mg per day.

Food sources

The main food sources of vitamin K are: Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, zucchini, oats, cheese, eggs, butter, beets, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, oranges, wheat, corn, bananas, carrots, fresh parsley, green tea.

A small amount of vitamin is found in nettle leaves, stigmas of corn, cereals, milk, carrot tops, rowan fruits, yarrow.

Preparations containing vitamin K

The medicinal product, which contains a vitamin, is Vikasol.

Interaction

Excessive intake of calcium can interfere with the synthesis of the vitamin, impair its absorption and can cause internal bleeding.

Excessive intake of vitamin E (about 2,200 IU per day) reduces the absorption of vitamin K from the gastrointestinal tract.

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