VITAMIN K

Prevents Haemorrhages

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is essential for the production of a type of protein called prothrombin and other factors involved in the blood-clotting mechanism. Hence it is known as an anti-haemorrhagic vitamin.

Vitamin K exists in nature in two forms. Vitamin K1, originally isolated from lucerne (alfalfa), is the only form that occurs in plants. It is a yellow oil, soluble in fat solvents, but only slightly soluble in water. Vitamin K2 has been found to be produced by many bacteria. Vitamin K is not easily destroyed by light, heat, or exposure to air. It is, however, destroyed by strong acids, alkalis, and oxidising agents. X-ray and radiation, frozen foods, aspirin, air pollution, and mineral oil are other factors that can destroy vitamin K.

Functions in the Body

Vitamin K is essential for the prevention of internal bleeding and hemorrhages. It aids in reducing excessive menstrual flow in women. This vitamin is important for the normal functioning of the liver. 

Sources

Vitamin K is fairly widely distributed in foods. It appears abundantly in cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, alfalfa, yoghurt, soya beans, and, to a lesser extent, in wheat and oats. Animal products contain only a little vitamin K. Cow’s milk is a better source than human milk. Vitamin K is also manufactured by bacteria in healthy intestines.

Deficiency Symptoms

Primary deficiency of vitamin K in adults has not yet been clearly demonstrated, either by observation of malnourished patients or by dietetic experiments on volunteers. A deficiency of vitamin K which results in the blood taking longer to clot, may cause severe haemorrhages anywhere in the body. Nosebleeds and bleeding can prove to be life threatening.

Healing and Therapeutic Properties

Haemorrhages in Newborns. Infants present a special situation in terms of vitamin K because of a limited placental transfer of the vitamin, and because the gut of the newborn is sterile and cannot synthesise the vitamin. Thus some infants require extra administration of vitamin K to prevent haemorrhages.

Biliary Obstruction. Vitamin K preparations are invaluable in cases where its absorption has been impaired by lack of bile salts, pancreatic secretions, or other causes of digestive failure

Precautions:

Vitamin K can be toxic if given in large doses over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms of vitamin K toxicity are diminution of prothrombine in the blood, small haemorrhages, and kidney disorders. In premature infants, there can be jaundice and anaemia.