Vitamin K is not the first vitamin people think of, but it is no less vital to your health than the others. Don't leave it off the list of must-have Vitamins. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is most well-known for the important role it plays in blood clotting. That's what makes us stop bleeding and begin to heal after we cut ourselves. People who don't have enough vitamin K in their systems can be prone to excessive bruising or nose bleeds. They can also run into serious trouble if they're badly hurt, since they won't stop bleeding.

Answered by Sidh Vicky , an ibibo Citizen, at 10:52 AM on October 13, 2008

Benefits of Vitamin K

When the body is injured, vitamin K initiates the process of healing by slowing and stopping the bleeding. For this reason, vitamin K is often given to patients before surgery to prevent excessive bleeding.

Vitamin K helps the body absorb the beneficial mineral calcium. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin K can help prevent or treat osteoporosis and the loss of bone density.

Recent studies suggested that vitamin K also has preventive and treatment benefits for cancer. Several human trials have shown that vitamin K may have anticancer effects.

Vitamin K also prevents the hardening of the arteries, which aids in preventing heart disease and heart failure.

Vitamin K is present in many green, leafy vegetables. Many people do not eat the recommended amount of these foods to receive the benefits of vitamin K. For this reason, most people should take additional vitamin K, especially if you or your family has a history of osteoporosis or heart disease.

Answered by Mohd Saqib , an ibibo Specialist, at 1:58 AM on September 27, 2008

well, Vitamin K may not be on your nutrient radar screen, but it should be. And if you take a multivitamin, you may find that vitamin K is missing or is present in a rather low amount. Is vitamin K a weak link in your osteoporosis prevention or treatment program?

Health Benefits of Vitamin K
The best understood function of vitamin K is its essential role in the process of blood coagulation. When someone is vitamin K deficient, their blood does not clot normally when they are cut and it is difficult to stop the bleeding.

But, there is copious evidence that vitamin K also plays an extremely important role in maintaining the health of bones. Many studies have reported that low vitamin K intake increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Vitamin K is essential for the normal formation of a protein in bones called osteocalcin. This protein binds to calcium and helps to hold the calcium in the bones.

Vitamin K also appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Part of the plaque that accumulates in arteries when they become narrowed in the development of arteriosclerosis is composed of calcium. Vitamin K plays a role that prevents this accumulation of calcium and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How Much Vitamin K Do You Need?
The current U.S. “Adequate Intake” (AI) value for vitamin K obtained from foods is 90 micrograms per day for women and 120 for men. However, these recommendations are somewhat controversial. Although this amount of vitamin K is adequate to promote normal blood clotting, many vitamin K researchers are finding that greater intake is likely needed for optimal bone health. European researchers from five countries recently suggested that 200 to 500 micrograms per day of vitamin K from foods (or about 100 micrograms from supplements) is likely needed for optimal bone health. Many studies have evaluated doses of vitamin K that are ten times these recommended intakes or greater.

Cooked dark green vegetables typically provide between 50 and 500 micrograms of vitamin K per half-cup serving. In general, the vitamin K in vegetables is not absorbed very efficiently. The AI values given above are recommendations for the amount of vitamin K from foods. The form of vitamin K in supplements is absorbed by the body 5 to 10 times more efficiently than it is from green vegetables. Consequently, 100 micrograms of vitamin K in a supplement may be comparable to 500 micrograms from food sources.

Can you get too much vitamin K?
Fortunately, vitamin K has low toxicity. No upper limit has been established in the United States. However, guidelines for upper levels of intake specifically from nutritional dietary supplements were developed by the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom and published online as part of their publication Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals (available in a large pdf file). The agency set a provisional “guidance level” for adults of one milligram per day (1000 micrograms) for the maximal level of safe lifelong intake of vitamin K from supplements for adults. Studies on bone function indicate that there is no reason to exceed 1000 micrograms per day.

Caution for Those Taking “Blood Thinner” Drugs
Vitamin K counteracts the function of anticoagulant or “blood thinner” types of drugs. Consequently, people taking these anticoagulant drugs must work closely with their physician if they want to change the level of their vitamin K intake.

There is some evidence that those taking anticoagulants may not need to forgo the benefits of vitamin K. Researchers in The Netherlands recently reported that, “. . . supplements providing 100 micrograms per day of vitamin K do not significantly interfere with oral anticoagulant therapy.” But don’t try this without medical supervision.


For more: http://osteoporosis.about.com/ od/dietsupplements/a/Vitamin_K .htm

Answered by Satya ~ , an ibibo Master, at 2:50 AM on September 16, 2008

Vitamin K is commonly known to aid in blood clotting. When the body is injured, vitamin K initiates the process of healing by slowing and stopping the bleeding. For this reason, vitamin K is often given to patients before surgery to prevent excessive bleeding. Although this is the primary function of vitamin K, this vitamin has several more health benefits.

Vitamin K helps the body absorb the beneficial mineral calcium. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin K can help prevent or treat osteoporosis and the loss of bone density. If you have a family history of osteoporosis, it is important to make sure you maintain healthy levels of vitamin K.

Recent studies suggested that vitamin K also has preventive and treatment benefits for cancer. Several human trials have shown that vitamin K may have anticancer effects.

Vitamin K also prevents the hardening of the arteries, which aids in preventing heart disease and heart failure.

SOURCE SITE :http://health.learninginfo.or g/benefits-of-vitamin-k.htm

Answered by Sanya Tahir , an ibibo Master, at 9:40 PM on September 15, 2008

Vitamin K is found in abundance in egg yolk,butter, chicken,cow liver , olive oil, spinach,cheese.IT is deposited in our bones.Vitamin K ensures longevity.It prevents blood clotting.Deficiency of vitamin K leads to loss of capacity to heal.Cardiac disease can be averted too.This protein helps calcium levels to remain optimum and protects the bones from getting too brittle( that is averts osteoporosis)

Answered by Vida Writer , an ibibo Master, at 7:59 PM on September 15, 2008

Vitamin K are fat soluble and are necessary for normal blood clotting. This vitamin is chiefly made in the colon by intestinal bacteria ( yes, there are good bacteria) where it is absorbed back into the colon walls and into the bloodstreams. Because most of the daily requirement of vitamin K is made in the colon, healthy adults only need around 500 and 1000mcg of vitamin K in their diet.

Vitamin K is considered a ? boring ? vitamin largely because it's sole purpose is to control blood clotting. However, recent studies have linked this unexciting vitamin to it's ability in fighting old age disease like Alzheimer. At the same time researchers are now looking into the link between this neglected vitamin and it's role in preventing cancer.

In Nature:

The best source of vitamin K are vegetables such as cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, green cabbage and whole grain cereals. At the same time you could also find it in egg yolk, kelp and alfalfa.

Benefits of Vitamin K :

• Mainly for controlling blood clotting
• Useful for people who have just undergone surgery.
• It helps calcium in strengthening bones.
• Prevents hemorrhagic disease of the newborn

Who Benefits from vitamin K?

Because we produce enough supply of this vitamin in our body and from green vegetables that we take, vitamin K supplement may not be needed at all. However, certain people who fall in the categories below may find vitamin K supplement to be useful.

Osteoporosis :
Women who suffer from osteoporosis are normally found to be deficient in this vitamin. It is believed that supplements may help.

Excess Bleeding :
For women who experience excessive menstrual bleeding, this vitamin may be for you. It would help reduce the flow of blood out of your body.

Pregnant Women :
Pregnant women who suffers from nausea and vomiting are also shown to be deficient in this vitamin. Supplements have been shown to provide relief within 72 hours.

Hemorrhage in Babies :
To prevent hemorrhage in babies, the vitamin used to be injected to newborns. Recently, the practise has been abandoned due to concern of childhood asthma and oral drops has been introduced instead.

Post Menopause Women :
Women in this category have been shown to have a reduced amount of calcium loss in their urine when vitamin K supplement is taken.

Answered by Yogeshwar , an ibibo Specialist, at 3:22 PM on September 15, 2008

It is an important vitamin for blood clotting..It is also used to make other protiens needed for healthy bones and tissues.

Answered by SUKUMARAN , an ibibo Master, at 1:46 PM on September 14, 2008

well,Vitamin K may not be on your nutrient radar screen, but it should be. And if you take a multivitamin, you may find that vitamin K is missing or is present in a rather low amount. Is vitamin K a weak link in your osteoporosis prevention or treatment program?

Health Benefits of Vitamin K
The best understood function of vitamin K is its essential role in the process of blood coagulation. When someone is vitamin K deficient, their blood does not clot normally when they are cut and it is difficult to stop the bleeding.

But, there is copious evidence that vitamin K also plays an extremely important role in maintaining the health of bones. Many studies have reported that low vitamin K intake increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Vitamin K is essential for the normal formation of a protein in bones called osteocalcin. This protein binds to calcium and helps to hold the calcium in the bones.

Vitamin K also appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Part of the plaque that accumulates in arteries when they become narrowed in the development of arteriosclerosis is composed of calcium. Vitamin K plays a role that prevents this accumulation of calcium and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
source:osteoporosis. about.com/od/dietsupplements/a /Vitamin_K.htm

Answered by Debashis , an ibibo Master, at 9:45 AM on September 14, 2008

Vitamin K is a group of 2-methilo-naphthoquinone derivatives. There are three notable forms of vitamin K, K1 (phytonadione, phylloquinone, phytonactone), K2 (menaquinones), which can be formed by natural bacteria in the intestines, and K3 (menadione),
the most active synthetic form of the preparations K3-K7. Plants synthesize phylloquinone, also known as vitamin K1. Vitamin K1 or phylloquinone is the principal dietary source of vitamin K and its predominant circulating form. Vitamin K2 is the collective term for a group of vitamin K compounds called menaquinones. The menaquinone homolgues are characterized by the number of isoprene residues comprising the side chain. Vitamin K2 is found in chicken egg yolk, butter, cow liver, certain cheeses and fermented soybean products such as natto. Very little vitamin K is stored by the body; small amounts of this vitamin are deposited in the liver and in the bones, but this amount is only enough to supply the body's needs for a few days.

Vitamin K is involved in the carboxylation of certain glutamate residues in proteins to form gamma-carboxyglutamate residues. These proteins have in common the requirement to be post-translationally modified by carboxylation of glutamic acid residues (forming gamma-carboxyglutamic acid) in order to become biologically active. These proteins include the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II (prothrombin), VII (proconvertin), IX (Christmas factor), X (Stuart factor), protein C, protein S, protein Zv and a growth-arrest-specific factor (Gas6). Menadione is a fat-soluble vitamin precursor that is converted into menaquinone in the liver. The primary known function of vitamin K is to assist in the normal clotting of blood, but it may also play a role in normal bone calcificaton. Without vitamin K, the carboxylation does not occur and the proteins that are synthesized are biologically inactive.

And for more information visit the source site:
http://www.vitamins-sup plements.org/vitamin-K.php

Answered by Dinesh , an ibibo Master, at 7:15 AM on September 14, 2008

dear rinku!
Vitamin K is helpful to prevent bleeding disorders.

Answered by Cuty * , an ibibo Advisor, at 6:53 AM on September 14, 2008