Contents
Vitamin K plays a key role in the course of many physiological processes, including blood clotting, as well as in the regulation of calcium metabolism. It is so important that it is given to newborns immediately after birth. Why cannot it be missing in our body, especially now, in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic?
What is vitamin K?
Vitamin K is one of the substances that dissolve in fats (right next to A, D and E). This is a group of compounds that can be divided into natural and synthetic. The former include vitamin K1 (phylloquinone, produced by plants) and K2 (menaquinone, produced by microorganisms). The synthetic form of vitamin K is K3 (menadione). Due to its high toxicity, this vitamin is only used as an ingredient in animal feed.
Vitamin K1 is present mainly in green plants. Its rich sources are mainly: spinach, kale, asparagus, savoy cabbage, broccoli, arugula, parsley, as well as fruits such as peaches, strawberries and dates. This compound, in slightly smaller amounts, is also found in cereal products (e.g. bulgur) and animal products (e.g. eggs, milk, beef).
Vitamin K2, in turn, is produced by the bacterial microflora in the jejunum and ileum.
Its daily dose for an adult is 75 micrograms. It is worth noting that the simultaneous supplementation of vitamins D3 and K2 requires the appropriate adjustment of the doses of both vitamins. And so, the higher the dose of “sunshine vitamin”, the higher the dose of menaquinone (K2).
It is standard in Polish delivery rooms to administer vitamin K (intramuscularly or orally) to newborns. Children are born with a high deficiency, and mother’s milk contains trace amounts. Administration of vitamin K prevents the occurrence of coagulation disorders, including very dangerous hemorrhages.
The role of vitamin K
Vitamin K has many functions in the body:
- takes part in the synthesis of blood coagulation factors and prothrombin,
- regulates bone metabolism, thanks to which calcium goes to the bones and is not accumulated in the blood vessels (the so-called calcification),
- plays an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis (the most important role of vitamin K2),
- strengthens the condition of the cardiovascular system – prevents atherosclerosis,
- accelerates wound healing,
- slows down the development of cancer cells,
- has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin K deficiencies – symptoms
Significant vitamin K deficiencies are relatively rare, but cases of its reduction in the body are more common. They happen, for example, as a result of long-term use of antibiotics (which largely weaken the intestinal microbiota), salicylic acid derivatives or drugs with anticoagulant activity. People suffering from celiac disease (persistent gluten intolerance), cystic fibrosis, intestinal disorders, chronic pancreatitis, malabsorption syndrome, cholestasis, and those who consume little green vegetables are also at high risk of a deficiency of this compound.
Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency include:
- a long time for blood to clot (bleeding can be life-threatening),
- difficult wound healing,
- problems with bone mineralization.
The need for vitamin K is especially important for menopausal women, those suffering from osteoporosis, breastfeeding women, and those struggling with heart and kidney diseases.
How Does Vitamin K Level Affect COVID-19?
In recent months, many articles and scientific reports have been published indicating the important role of vitamin K levels in the course of COVID-19.
A study by Danish scientists, published in April 2021, proves that low vitamin K levels are a common trait of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Moreover, it directly correlates with higher mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The level of this relationship was tested in 138 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and the control group consisted of 138 healthy people of similar age. Allan Linneberg, one of the professors responsible for the research, stated that in patients with severe vitamin K deficiency, it is necessary to activate (artificially, pharmacologically) the activity of a cascade of other proteins with a pro-thrombotic effect inside the liver, which promote the formation of blood clots. Only in this way can the problem of clotting be prevented and this mechanism activated, so to speak, from outside [1].
Japanese researchers shared with the world the results of their observations that may increase the effectiveness of the fight against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Namely, they found that natto (fermented soybean) extract may have properties that neutralize a dangerous pathogen. This is believed to be due to the protein-degrading substance present in the soybean extract. For now, these reports have been confirmed by studies vitro (performed on cell lines grown in dishes). The researchers applied a mixture of coronavirus fragments and natto extract to the cells. The enzyme present in the fermented soybean extract successfully destabilized (ie destroyed) the virus spines, but turned out to be sensitive to high temperatures [2]. This discovery could be a major breakthrough in the field of nutrition, as there are few cases of food with antiviral activity today. Especially when it comes to products of natural origin such as soybeans. Scientists intend to confirm preliminary conclusions in clinical trials.
One of the effective ways to prevent vitamin K deficiencies – in addition to changing eating habits and including more green vegetables in your daily diet – is oral supplementation, e.g. with Kinon. It is based on the richest source of vitamin K2 – natto. It is worth taking care of the correct level of this vitamin, not only in the time of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but also during the upcoming immunity decline season.
Bibliografia:1.Linneberg A. et al. The Association of Low Vitamin K Status with Mortality in a Cohort of 138 Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19. Nutrients. 2021:13(6),1985.2.Oba M. et al. Natto extract, a Japanese fermented soybean food, directly inhibits viral infections including SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Biochemical and Biophysical Research