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| Vitamin K |
Last updated: Nov 19, 2009 |
 Vitamin K can help with the following: | |  | | | | Circulation |  Bruising Susceptibility | Low levels of vitamin K are sometimes suspected as a contributing factor to bruising. Vitamin K is found in foods such as green leafy vegetables, soyfoods, egg yolks and cauliflower. |
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Digestion |
 IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)| | See the link between IBS and Vitamin B12. |
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Inflammation |
Chronic Inflammation| | [Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1997;67(5): pp.350-6] |
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Metabolic |
Blood Type O |
Musculo-Skeletal |
 Osteoporosis / Risk| | In a 3 year study of postmenopausal women, vitamin D, minerals and vitamin K were used to determine vitamin K's effect on bone loss. The use of vitamin K, along with other nutrients, reduced femoral neck bone loss, but not lumbar spine bone loss when compared to a similar supplement list without vitamin K. [Calcif Tissue Int 2003;73(1): pp.21-6]
Numerous studies published in 2008 have shown that vitamin K not only helps regulate calcium balance in the body to ensure calcium remains in the bones and away from heart valves and arteries, but it has demonstrated numerous other health benefits. In addition, scientists have been able to develop a form of the nutrient that stays in the body longer than previous forms and is more cost effective to purchase.
Maintaining consistent levels of calcium is essential, especially as we age. Studies have shown that a vitamin K2 deficiency can lead to brittle bones and hardening of the arteries. Conversely, a new study shows that restoring the nutrient can actually reverse the normal aging process of arterial calcification. Another study published in 2008 demonstrated that postmenopausal women in Japan who took both Fosamax and vitamin K2 for one year had a greater increase in neck bone density than women who only took Fosamax. And an in vitro study published in January 2008 led doctors to conclude that taking a combination of vitamins D3 and K1 can offer a "low-cost strategy for laying down new bone material." |
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Nutrients |
Vitamin K Requirement |
Organ Health |
Hepatitis| | Low vitamin K levels may be supplemented with 100 to 500 mcg per day. |
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Risks |
Increased Risk of Coronary Disease / Heart Attack| | One potential link between vitamin K and heart disease is calcification of arteries. In vitro and in vivo evidence suggest that interruption of vitamin K biological function results in abnormal arterial calcification. Specifically, interference with MGP (matrix Gla protein) function induced by vitamin K deficiency appears to be an important factor in calcification. In mice, knockout of the MGP gene results in 50% fetal death, and in live births there is marked calcification of the arterial tree as well as bone loss (osteopenia). Human data are limited primarily to case reports of individuals exposed to warfarin in utero. However, one recent study in postmenopausal women suggested that lower vitamin K status is associated with increased carotid artery calcification. |
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Tumors, Malignant |
Multiple Myeloma| | Many patients on high dose chemotherapy for lymphoma or myeloma test positive for prothrombin precursor PIVKA II. These are proteins induced by vitamin K absence or antagonism. |
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma| | Many patients on high dose chemotherapy for lymphoma or myeloma test positive for prothrombin precursor PIVKA II. These are proteins induced by vitamin K absence or antagonism. |
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Uro-Genital |
Possible Pregnancy-Related Issues| | The U.S. RDA is 65mg. |
Menorrhagia (Heavy Periods)| | Based on its ability to help blood clot normally, vitamin K has been proposed as a treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding and is beneficial for some women. Although bleeding time and prothrombin levels in women with menorrhagia are typically normal, the use of vitamin K (often in the form of chlorophyll) does have limited research support. Green leafy vegetables and other sources of vitamin K should be eaten freely. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
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The secret to my success is that I bit off more than I could chew and chewed as fast as I could. Paul Hogan 