Vitamin K:
Vitamin K allows blood clotting and also helps maintain healthy bone tissue.It is taken by plants and the other by the bacteria in the intestinal flora of humans and animals. Deficiency of this type of vitamin is very rare in adults, but is common in newborns.
The benefits of Vitamins K:
– 3 types of vitamins K exist: K1, K2 and K3
– Vitamin K1 is of plant origin,
– K2 is of animal origin,
– K3 is synthetic,
– Promotes blood clotting and maintenance of bone tissue,
– To avoid hemorrhagic disease in newborns, supplementation is strongly recommended,
– To avoid a hemorrhagic disease in the newborn, a supplementation is strongly recommended, to control the food intakes in case of anti-vitamin K treatment, other proteins responsible for the activation of several coagulation factors, which limits the risk of bleeding.
– It guarantees the health and solidity of the bone mineral mass. It reinforces the action of osteocalcin, an important protein for the calcification of bone tissue. During all stages of life, a good intake of this vitamin is essential to allow the growth and renewal of bone tissue. It also helps prevent disorders related to bone demineralization such as osteoporosis.
The foods rich in vitamin K
It exists in two food forms of :
K1 vitamin is found mainly in foods of plant origin,
K2 is found in foods of animal origin.
- Turnip, dandelion and
- beet leaves, boiled
- Swiss chard, cooked
- Cooked broccoli
- Lettuce, mesclun
- Spinach, raw
- Raw escarole
- Cooked Brussels sprouts
- Cooked broccoli
- Leaf lettuce
- Kale or collards, cooked
- Asparagus, raw or cooked
- Fresh parsley
- Boston and romaine lettuce
- Cabbage, raw or cooked
- Kiwi fruit
- Okra, boiled
- Chinese cabbage, raw or
- boiled
- Green beans, raw
- Red lettuce
- Spinach, boiled
use of vitamins K:
Vitamins K supplementation in babies is very common, even systematic. It compensates for the lack of intake via breast milk and the non-existent reserves of the newborn. This supplementation also limits the risks of hemorrhagic disease in the first months of life.
Food supplements containing this vitamin are particularly recommended to prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases related to the calcification of vessels. The competent authorities recommend not to exceed the dosage of 25 micrograms per day to avoid the risk of overdose, the long-term consequences of which are still unknown.
Adverse effects of vitamin K:
in adults Vitamins K deficiency is extremely rare; newborns are most at risk. Deficiency can lead to hemorrhagic disease in the baby as well as bone growth abnormalities. In the adult, the main medium-term risk is bleeding. Long-term vitamin K deficiency can lead to bone demineralization and the development of disorders such as osteomalacia or osteoporosis.
Health effects of vitamin K overdose:
There are no scientific studies proving the deleterious effects of excess vitamin K. However, as a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a physician before considering taking vitamin K supplements.
Anticoagulant treatments and vitamin K:
Anticoagulant treatments interact with vitamin K.
The bacteria present in the intestinal flora synthesize a small quantity of vitamin K.
During prolonged antibiotic treatment, a decrease in the level of vitamin K is noticed. These antibiotics weaken these bacteria and cause a strong decrease in the production of vitamin K. It is recommended to limit the food intake of this vitamin in case of anti-vitamin K treatment.
On the other hand, in case of prolonged antibiotic treatment, it may be interesting to consider a supplementation.
Chemical characteristics :
Vitamin K exists as a group of fat-soluble vitamins consisting of 3 types that are essential for blood clotting and mineralization of bone tissue.
The 3 types belong to the quinone family:
– Vitamin K1 or phylloquinone is only synthesized by plants. It is found in plant foods (cabbage, green leafy vegetables, etc.),
– Vitamin K2 or menaquinone is synthesized by bacteria in the intestines of mammals. It is found in foods of animal origin;
– Vitamin K3 or menadione is a naphthoquinone and is a synthetic form,
Today, vitamin K3 is no longer used in the human diet. Today, vitamin K3 is no longer used in human food because it is three times more active than other forms and can cause significant side effects such as nausea, headaches, anemia, etc.
