Vitamin K – occurrence, sources, effects of deficiency and excess. Where can we find vitamin K?

Proven content

Vitamin K is one of the most important substances necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Vitamin K deficiency – especially in young children – can lead to serious health problems. What do we need vitamin K for? Where does it occur and how is it best supplied to the body? What effects can excess or deficiency of vitamin K have?

Vitamin K – occurrence

Vitamin K is, in fact, a group of organic chemicals that are considered to be one of the essential nutrients. In nature, vitamin K comes in two forms:

1. vitamin K1 (phylloquinone, phytomenadione, phytonation). It is a yellow liquid, synthesized by plants, resistant to temperature and fat-soluble. Vitamin K1 is supplied to the body along with food, when we reach for food products of plant origin – 30-70% of its total content in food is absorbed.
2. vitamin K2 (menaquinone). It is produced by microorganisms – also those that live in our digestive system and which we call the intestinal flora. Like vitamin K1, vitamin K2 is fat-soluble. Its synthesis by microorganisms of the jejunum and ileum covers a significant part of the adult human requirement for this substance. According to scientists, vitamin K2 is almost 100% bioavailable.

Many synthetic derivatives of vitamin K are also obtained in laboratories, the best known of which is menadione, also known as vitamin K3. It dissolves in water and is more bioavailable than natural vitamin K1.

It is worth keeping the vitamin K level under control. If the general practitioner deems it necessary, he may refer the patient to a vitamin K level examination in the body. You can get a referral during an online visit with your GP.

Try SOLHERBS vitamin K dietary supplements: Vitamin K2Mk-7 or Vitamin K2 + D3. They are characterized by a natural composition and ecological packaging. Pullulan capsules can even be used by vegans and vegetarians.

Vitamin K – functions in the body

Vitamin K is needed primarily in the liver synthesis of plasma blood coagulation factors and the protein – prothrombin. They are crucial when it comes to blood clotting – in the event of a deficiency of any of the factors, the blood does not clot at all or clots very slowly.

A dietary supplement with vitamin K, which supports proper blood clotting, is available on Medonet Market. You can buy a vegan supplement from Dr Jacob’s at a good price today. To support the circulatory system, you can also reach for K2 MK-7 50mcg Puritan’s Pride capsules.

Another very important function of vitamin K is supporting the cardiovascular system. It is said to have an anti-haemorrhagic effect as it strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Thus, it prevents their cracking and calcification, and also prevents excessive menstrual bleeding.

Vitamin K also plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the calcium economy the body. It helps in the uptake of calcium by the skeletal system, taking part in the formation of bone tissue. Moreover, vitamin K has antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. There are also studies according to which vitamin K may inhibit the development of neoplastic diseases.

Vitamin K plays an important role in the proper functioning of the body, therefore it should not be deficient. Vitamin K2 MK-7 – a dietary supplement in drops, available at a bargain price at medonetmarket.pl helps to take care of the daily dose of vitamin K.

Also read: Vitamin K may protect against lymphoma

Vitamin K deficiency

Vitamin deficiency Who is quite a rare disease in adults. A significant part of the daily requirement for vitamin K is covered by vitamin K2 synthesized by the intestinal microflora, while the rest is supplemented by vitamin K1 supplied with food.

In some special situations, however, it may turn out that the body does not have enough vitamin K – this usually happens:

1. with serious diseases of the intestines and liver (e.g. biliary obstruction);
2. after long-term antibiotic therapy;
3. when taking anticoagulants (anticoagulants), anticonvulsants, derivatives of salicylic acid;
4. with malabsorption syndrome;
5. in patients with celiac disease, cholestasis, cystic fibrosis or chronic pancreatitis;
6. after major surgery;
7. with malnutrition;
8. with a diet low in green vegetables (also when using monocomponent slimming diets).

Symptoms that may herald a vitamin K deficiency include:

1. heavy menstruation;
2. bleeding from the mucous membranes: nosebleeds, from the digestive system;
3. a tendency to bruise easily, even with light impact;
4. hematuria;
5. long time of blood clotting, also with minor injuries;
6. frequent diarrhea;
7. susceptibility to bacterial infections.

People who are at risk or have any of the symptoms and suspect a vitamin K deficiency should consult a doctor as soon as possible. They will likely recommend you to change your diet and vitamin K supplementation. Order eg Vitamin K2 MK-7 45ug from Viridian. You can also reach for Aqua Kick ADEK OstroVit powdered vitamins, where you can find not only vitamin K, but also A, D and E.

Prolonged vitamin K deficiency can result in many serious health problems, such as:

1. osteoporosis;
2. anemia;
3. liver damage;
4. jaundice;
5. calcification of blood vessels (calcification);
6. inappropriate level of blood clotting.

Adequate supplementation can counteract vitamin K deficiencies. At Medonet Market you can buy the Do! Multivitamin dietary supplement at an attractive price, which is suitable for adults and children over 3 years of age. The supplement helps to provide the daily dose of vitamins and minerals and supports the proper functioning of the body.

Vitamin K deficiency in the newborn

While this problem is relatively rare in adults, in newborns, vitamin K deficiency is quite common. This is because their intestines do not have enough bacteria to produce this vitamin right after they are born. Insufficient vitamin K can lead to neonatal haemorrhagic disease (VKDB – Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding). It is a dangerous disease that can lead to life-threatening haemorrhages in the internal organs.

As part of the prophylaxis of neonatal haemorrhagic disease, it is common practice today to give infants just after birth (within 6 hours of birth) a single dose of 1 mg of vitamin K intramuscularly. In breastfed infants, it is also recommended to supplement vitamin K in micro doses from the 8th day to the end of the 3rd month of life. Mother’s milk does not contain enough vitamin K to cover the baby’s body needs for this substance.

Vitamin K deficiencies should be supplemented. Order Vitamin K Viridian today for excellent bone health. You can also try Solgar vitamin K2 MK-7 100 µg capsules.

Read also: Vitamin K in the newborn

Excess vitamin K

It can also be dangerous to the health and balance of the body excess vitamin K. However, it occurs quite rarely and is almost always associated with inadequate synthetic vitamin K supplementation. Symptoms that may be associated with excess vitamin K include:

1. excessive sweating;
2. feeling hot;
3. heart pains;
4. liver dysfunction and pain;
5. in newborns: haemolytic anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice.

Vitamin K – where is it found?

Vitamin K sources are mainly products of plant origin. They are especially rich in vitamin K green-colored vegetables, with a high content of chlorophyll, such as:

1. broccoli
2. kale,
3. spinach,
4. Brussels sprouts,
5. romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce and other varieties of lettuce such as arugula, lamb’s lettuce etc.
6. kale,
7. asparagus,
8. parsley,
9. botwinka,
10. celery,
11. an avocado,
12. sorrel,
13. cucumbers,
14. zucchini,
15. broad bean,
16. peas.

It is also worth remembering that vitamin K can also be found in other vegetables and fruits: large amounts of it contain, among others strawberries, cauliflower, turnips, potatoes, carrots and peaches. Nuts, green tea, grains and soybean oil can also be provided.

In slightly smaller amounts, vitamin K can also be found in animal products, including in the liver (especially beef), in eggs, as well as in milk and its products.

You can also provide vitamin K to your body with dietary supplements. We recommend, for example, Nattokinase + K2 – Doctor Life dietary supplement. The Xenico Pharma brand also offers dietary supplements with vitamin K. At Medonet Market you can buy, for example, Menachinox K2 and Menachinox K2 200 for healthy bones and proper blood coagulability, as well as Monolipid K Forte and Monolipid K, i.e. supplements supporting the circulatory system and maintaining the proper level of cholesterol in blood.

Read also: Coconut oil – nutritional values, properties, application, types

Vitamin K and D – is it worth combining them?

Due to the great popularity of dietary supplements combining various vitamins today, a lot of preparations such as vitamin K + D. Is such a combination justified?

According to many doctors and pharmacists, vitamins K and D, when combined with each other, show neither positive nor negative mutual influence. There is no research to support that vitamin K supports vitamin D absorption (and vice versa). Taking into account the similar range of action of both vitamins – incl. regulation of calcium-phosphate metabolism and the process of bone tissue formation – even more so, there are no specific indications for taking such supplements.

Read also: Vitamin D – what is the risk of its deficiency?