Organic Vitamin K Consumption:
Vitamin K is an important nutrient which performs numerous functions in the body. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be deposited within the fat tissue of the body. It is associated with the process of coagulation and in a way prevents extreme loss of blood. There are two main types of vitamin K:
- Vitamin-K1 (Phylloquinone): Present in green vegetables and leafy veggies.
- Vitamin-K2 (Menaquinone): Present in fermented food and generated by bacteria in the gut.
Apart from aiding in the clotting of blood, Vitamin K is also helpful in the maintenance of bones through regulation of calcium.
Vitamin K consumption: Dividing it into K1 And K2
Vitamin K comes in two major categories and that is K1 and K2.
Vitamin-K1 (Phylloquinone):
- Presence in vegetable Green leafy herbs.
- Responsible for blood coagulation.
- Certain good sources are kale, broccoli & spinach etc.
Vitamin-K2 (Menaquinone):
- Presence in meat and fermented foodstuff.
- Vital for bone health and heart health as well.
- Made up of many sub varieties from MK 4- MK 13 each having specific advantages. K1 and K2 dosage is dramatically different so there’s a need to incorporate different diets to achieve their maximum advantages.
Health Benefits of Vitamin K:
Certainly, Vitamin K has other health benefits, aside from the deficiency symptoms treated above, that are important for health in general.
- Blood Clotting: It is very necessary for making protein, which prevents blood loss by stopping the release of blood out.
- Bone health: Aids in controlling calcium and thus lowering the chances of getting a fracture and preserving the bone mass.
- Heart health: It decreases stiffness of the arteries, thus chances of having heart diseases are reduced.
- Cognitive health: It promotes brain functioning and may even reduce the chances of developing dementia.
Vitamin K intake is significantly helpful when fulfilling any of the vital body functions.
Vitamin K consumption in the process of blood clotting:
A vitamin whose dysfunction leads to a pathological state called antenatal or postnatal hematoma is vitamin K. This ensures factors of clotting, protein and calcium are activated in a cascade to prevent the loss of blood. Main features of this process are the following:
- Activation of Clotting Factors:. Vitamins k assists in binding calcium ions, which are carried out by clotting factors that vitamin k carboxylates glutamate residues.
- Formation of Prothrombin: It is important for the making of prothrombin which is subsequently converted to thrombin that helps in the making of clots .
- Regulation of Anticoagulation Proteins: Vitamin K influences such proteins as protein C and proteins.
These results indicate that vitamin K intake is necessary for normal hemostatic processes.
Role of Vitamin K in Enhancing Bone Health:
Apart from a previously mentioned function, vitamin K promotes bone health. It is involved in the carboxylation of osteocalcin, a protein that is significant for binding of calcium in the bones. On the other hand, deficiency of Vitamin K may cause reduced bone density and possibly an increase in chances of fractures.
Key benefits include:
- Increased mineralization of bones.
- Risk of fractures lowered.
- Better absorption of calcium.
Even legally and scientifically, it is well documented, especially for the elder and postmenopausal women, that other foods, especially boldly clothed sea and vitamin k in fermented food contribute to these health benefits. Therefore, the use of such sources assists the body in bone preservation and maintenance of skeletal health.
How Vitamin K Contributes to the Health of Your Heart:
While there are several known actions how Vitamin K is used in cardiovascular protection:
Regulating Calcium:
- Vitamin K helps in the activation of various proteins that control calcium accumulation.
- Such proteins include Matrix Gla-protein (MGP) that prevents the deposition of calcium in the blood vessels.
Coagulation:
- Vitamin K is also important in the production of clotting factors necessary to stem bleeding.
- Prevents problems resulting from both putative over-clotting of blood and under-clotting.
Reduction of Arthritis:
- Suppresses cytokines that elicit inflammatory responses hence less inflammation within arteries.
- Prevents the formation of atherosclerosis because of the anti-inflammation activity of the said compound.
Lipid Metabolism:
- Support Healthy Lipid Levels By Regulating Gene Expression The Ideal Cholesterol Level To Prevent Cardiovascular Disease.
Vitamin K in Foods Despite this vitamin is widely available in various foods:
Green Leafy Vegetables:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
- Collard Greens
Cruciferous Vegetables:
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
Vegetable Oils:
- Soybean Oil
- Canola Oil
- Olive Oil
Fermented Foods:
- Natto (fermented soybeans)
Animal Products:
- Liver
- Eggs
- Meat
Fruits and Berries:
- Blueberries
Figs In general, when a proper diet is maintained, the recommended amounts of Vitamin K will be consumed.
Vitamin k supplements: Analysis Vitamin K supplements: Advantages
- Bone Health: Helps to increase bone density which further decreases chances of fractures.
- Heart Health: Proper regulation of bleeding along with physiological vascular calcification inhibition.
- Availability: Quite readily available, particularly for those on restrictive diets
- Accurate Stated Amount in Pills: K pills provide a constant and uniform amount of vitamin K and have little risk of overdose. Vitamin K supplements : Disadvantages
- Possible Interactions: K should not be consumed together with anticoagulants or other medications as this would modify the effect of the medication for better or for worse.
- Side effects: Nausea, and/or upset stomach, and/or allergy.
- Cost: It is still important to consider this option in the long term even when there may be associated costs.
- Regulation: Varying quality of supplement due to lack of stringent measures in the supplement industry.
Recommended Daily Intake and Dosage
Human beings have different requirements for Vitamin K depending on their age, sex, and even the life stage they are at. To this end, the following figures have been presented by National Institute of Health:
- Infants (0-6 months): 2.0 micrograms (mcg)
- Infants (7-12 months): 2.5 mcg
- Children (1-3 years): 30 mcg
- Children (4-8 years): 55 mcg
- Children (9-13 years): 60 mcg
- Adolescents (14-18 years): 75 mcg
- Adult Men: 120 mcg
- Adult Women: 90 mcg
- Pregnant and Lactating Women: 90 mcg
Healthy consumption of the vitamin K is not possible when one observes strict in take, however this does not suggest that free intake of the vitamin can be done. For the most part, people consume the requisite dose with their food, relaying on leafy greens, fish, and dairy.
Vitamin K Deficiency: Signs and Symptoms
Vitamin K deficiency can take several manifestations, some of which may require medical assistance if appropriate measures are not taken. Early detection of these signs is necessary for the timely initiation of the care.
Common Symptoms:
- Easy Bruising: Bruises are seen on the persons body with little or no physical activities.
- Bleeding Gums: Excessive bleeding might be experienced during tooth brushing.
- Nosebleeds: Another common symptom is unexpected and recurrent nosebleeds.
- Menorrhagia: Individual can have very heavy periods.
- Hematuria and Hematochezia: There is a chance that something is deficient if blood shows up msot of the time.
- Extended Deceleration: It takes longer than normal for them to stop being bled.
Severe symptoms:
- Bled Through Wound Sites: The post-operative area sometimes bleeds more than one expects after a procedure.
- Birth and Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: In some rare circumstances and other than age discrimination factors, intracranial bleeding particularly in infants may happen.
Who needs the Additional Vitamin K consumption?
Neonates:
- Most babies get given vitamin k injections because they are too young to produce enough of it by themselves in order to stop certain bleeding disorders.
- Other underlaying disease like crohns disease, celiac, chronic pancreatitis undermines these vitamins and other fat soluble vitamins.
Older Ages:
- Advanced ages are hit with age related factors that affect consumption of determinants of the blood nutrients that strengthen Interleukin-17 in plasma.
- After chemotherapy most of the time k is deficient as mentioned before.
Agents that Hinder Respective Medications
- Vitamin k is metabolized after long term maintenance of broad spectrum antibiotics, cholestyramine and anticoagulation.
Patients who have gone Under Surgical Procedure
- Agranulocytosis is strictly associated with blood preventing formation post when several months have passed after a surgical procedure deutschs and vitamin k.
Interactions and Contraindications:
Vitamin K is generally safe and useful, however, it has a myriad of drug interactions and medical conditions associated with it. Some are known to decrease the effects of blood thinners like warfarin. The patients who are on anticoagulants should obtain medical advice prior to using these supplements.
Common Interactions:
- Anticoagulants: Warfarin.
- Antibacterials: broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- Anti-epileptics: Phenytoin.
Health Conditions:
- Hepatic cirrhosis: Vitamin k reduced metabolism.
- Chronic kidney disease: Use of vitamin K may be altered.
- Gastrointestinal Malabsorption: Consolidated intake.
It is essential to take vitamin K together with a doctor’s note, especially when taking any other medication and/or chronic diseases are present.
It is essential to take vitamin K together with a doctor’s note, especially when taking any other medication and/or chronic diseases are present.
FAQs About Vitamin K consumption:
What are the two main vitamin K types?
- There are two main types: Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and Vitamin K2 (menaquinone).
How much Vitamin K one needs in a day?
- Emphasized below, the level of tolerance is different for every individual adult males: 120 micrograms adult females: 90 micrograms.
Does Vitamin K Deficiency occur?
- Yes, it does exist and may cause extreme blood loss or even faulty bones.
Does too much of vitamin really pose risks even for older people.
- Higher than 150mcg of vitamin k leads complications in patients who receives anticoagulants. More information from the healthcare professional.
Who is the hero out of K2 and K1?
- Both are important in nature. K1 is found more on the green leafy vegetables,cabbage and spinach for example while. K2 is located in the animal products and fermented foods.
Conclusion: The Importance of K vitamin to achieve Better Health
Vitamin K is necessary for many physiological processes. It includes the following factors:
- Plumage matters: Normalization of clotting ability for acute blood loss due to the formation of certain proteins.
- Bones: It is an important part of the processes of controlling the level of bone mineral density, hence reducing the incidence of osteoporosis and fractures.
- Heart: It helps to reduce the risks and better the disease by preventing pate-related arterial calcification.
Adequate provisions of vitamin K21it a in the normal diet do help in bringing about maximum health benefits. One can get dark, leafy vegetables, fermented products, and dietary supplements. Continuous and proper dosage helps in improving health status and reducing particular well-being difficulties.