Vitamin K health

Vitamin K was discovered in 1929. It is a group of three fat soluble vitamins: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) which is made by plants, vitamin K2 (menaquinone) which is made by animals, birds and by bacteria in the intestines, and vitamin K3 (menaphthone or menadione), which is synthetic.

Benefits

Blood clotting

Vitamin K is used to make prothrombin and other proteins which are important in blood clotting. Vitamin K also plays a role in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, another protein important in blood clot formation.

Bone metabolism

A bone protein known as osteocalcin regulates the function of calcium in bone turnover and mineralization. Vitamin K is necessary for the conversion of osteocalcin to its active form. It is also necessary for the function of a protein known as MGP which is present in bones, teeth and cartilage.

Kidney function

Vitamin K is necessary for the production of a urinary protein involved in kidney function which inhibits the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. This may account for the fact that vegetarians, whose diets are often high in vitamin K, have a low incidence of kidney stones.

Vitamin K Categories:

Vitamin K
Vitamin K health
Vitamin K deficiency
Vitamin K sources
Vitamin K recommended daily
Vitamin K overdose
Vitamin K supplements
Vitamin K interactions

Other Vitamins:

Vitamin A
Carotenes
Beta carotene
Lycopene
Lutein
Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamin B6
Folate
Vitamin B12
Biotin
Pantothenic acid
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K