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Vitamins

The wife recently found out that she is deficient in vitamin K so since I have the research done, I’ll share it with you.

Vitamin K is one of the lesser-known vitamins, yet it is very important in ensuring that our body functions properly.

Vitamin K is responsible for helping the blood to make the specialized proteins that are found in blood plasma, that is, the clear fluid in the blood. One of these proteins is prothrombin, and this ensures that our blood clots. If this was not present, then it is likely we would bleed to death if we cut ourselves. Hemophiliacs are usually unable to make enough vitamin K by themselves, and so need supplements.

Vitamin K also helps the body to maintain and make kidney and bone tissue. Along with vitamin D, it is essential in the maintenance of healthy bones. Vitamin K ensures that proteins that are essential for bone cell production are activated. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium that is also needed for healthy bones.

The US Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for an Adequate Intake (AI) of vitamin K for a 25-year old male is 120 micrograms/day. The Adequate Intake of this vitamin for adult women is 90 micrograms/day, for infants is 10-20 micrograms/day, for children and adolescents 15-100 micrograms/day. However most people get all the vitamin K they need from their diet. Vitamin K is made in the large intestine, with the help of “friendly bacteria”. Newborn babies may not have enough of these bacteria in their gut to make vitamin K, and so an injection of synthetic vitamin K may be given to them, until they are able to make their own.

Vitamin K is found in liver, cheese, fruits, cereals and dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and broccoli.

Deficiency in vitamin K is rare, and supplements are not generally necessary. As with all things medical, consult a doctor if you need more advice.