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Home >
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Supplement Articles
> Vitamin K |
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Supplement Articles |
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VITAMIN K
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.)
“Your back bones
connected to your hip bone,
your hip bones connected to
your”… Vitamin K intake?
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vitamin k |
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Green are a rich
source of Vitamin k |
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We’ve
all heard about the
relationship between
calcium and bone
health, but very few
people know about
the importance of
Vitamin K. Vitamin K
is required for the
production of
osteocalcin the
protein web-like
structure upon which
bone is built. |
Simply put, through
osteocalcin, Vitamin
K attracts calcium
to bone tissue,
playing a role in
the formation,
remodeling and
repair of bone. This
is especially
important for
menopausal women or
those with a history
of osteoporosis in
their family.
Osteoporosis is a
skeletal disease
which causes low
mineral bone density
or bone mass due to
a progressive
deterioration of
bone. It leaves bone
fragile and can
increase
susceptibility to
debilitating
fractures, such as
hip and spine
fractures.
Vitamin K also plays
an integral role in
blood clotting. It
is responsible for
the manufacturing of
clotting factors,
such as prothrombin
and clotting factors
VII, IX and X. These
clotting factors
play an essential
part of hemostasis,
the innate
physiological
process that
prevents excessive
blood loss from
damaged blood
vessels by first
plugging and then
repairing the
damage. Ineffective
coagulation can lead
to hemorrhage and
can be life
threatening.
Vitamin K is a fat
soluble vitamin made
in two naturally
occurring forms.
Vitamin K1, also
known as
phylloquinone, is
found in green leafy
vegetables such as
kale, spinach and
broccoli, as well as
fruits, such as
avocado and kiwi. It
is also found in
vegetable oils, such
as canola, soybean
and olive oils.
Vitamin K2 is
another usable form
made by our own gut
bacteria, but these
stores are small and
are rapidly depleted
without regular
dietary intake of
K1. Individuals
taking large amounts
of antibiotics which
alter the balance of
normal gut flora,
are susceptible to
deficiencies. Also
at risk for
deficiency are
individuals with
impairments in fat
absorption, those
with significant
liver damage or
disease and those
taking vitamin K
antagonist
anticoagulant drugs.
Vitamin K deficiency
results in impaired
blood clotting,
usually demonstrated
by laboratory tests
that measure
clotting time (PTT,
PT,etc.). Symptoms
include easy
bruising and
bleeding that may be
manifested as
nosebleeds, bleeding
gums, blood in the
urine, blood in the
stool, tarry black
stools, or unusually
heavy menstrual
bleeding. In
infants, a vitamin K
deficiency may
result in possibly
life-threatening
bleeding within the
skull (intracranial
hemorrhage).
Individuals who have
a clotting disorder,
which leaves them
more susceptible to
forming clots (ie;
atherosclerosis), as
well as those
already taking
anticoagulant drugs
(such as warfarin),
are cautioned
against Vitamin K
supplementation.
These individuals
must also be
cautious when
consuming large
amounts of Vitamin K
in their diet, as it
will counteract the
drug’s effects.
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Vitamin K–
QUICK FACTS
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FOOD SOURCES
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·
Green leafy
vegetables
including
kale,
broccoli and
spinach,
parsley, as
well as
vegetable
oils, such
as canola,
soybean and
olive oils.
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DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS |
·
Easy
bruising and
bleeding
(nosebleeds,
bleeding
gums, blood
in the urine
or stool),
heavy
menstrual
bleeding and
poor wound
healing.
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OPTIMUM
DOSAGE
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·
Women 90
mcg/day, Men
120 mcg/day. |
WORKS WELL
WITH
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·
Calcium,
vitamin D,
Magnesium
and
Phosphorus |
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IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
click for products |
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Vitamin K
will
interfere
with the
workings of
some
anticoagulant
medications.
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For
informational
purposes only.
Please consult your
health care
practitioner before
taking natural
health care
products. Click here
for full disclaimer. |
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All articles
copyright National Nutrition
2001 - 2011. For educational
purposes only. Please note
that while National Nutrition
supports your right to use
natural health care products for
any therapeutic purpose that you
see fit, that the information on
this website should not be
considered as a claim or as a
substitute for medical advice. |
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