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Health & Supplements

5 Steps To Back Pain Relief
Acai Berry Juice Review
Acai Berry Studies
Acetyl L-Carnitine Information
Aloe Vera Juice, Gel & Health
Alpha Lipoic Acid Info
Amino Acid Supplment
Arginmax for Men Review
Arginmax for Women Review
Artichoke Leaf Extract
Ashwagandha Extract
Astragalus Root Herb
Back Pain Treatment
Back Pain Relief - Lower Back Pain
Black Cohosh Side Effects
Black Cohosh Benefit & SIde Effects
Blood Tests - Understanding 1
Blood Test - Understanding 2
Borage Oil GLA Benefits
Bromelain Quercetin Benefits
Calcium Supplement Benefit
Calcium Deficiency
Cause of Lower Back Pain
CoEnzyme Q10 - CoQ10 Info
Coral Calcium Supplement
Damiana Leaf & Herb Extract
Degenerative Disc Disease
Echinacea Golden Seal
Flax Seed Oil Health Benefits
Ginkgo Biloba Information
Ginseng Root Benefit
Glucosamine Chondroitin
Grape Seed Extract Benefits
Green Tea Extract Benefits
Guggul Extract - Guggulsterone
Herbalife Prelox Blue Review
Herniated Disc Treatment
Herniated Disc & Back Pain
Joint Pain & Joint Health - 1
Joint Pain & Joint Health - 2
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Lifezyme Plus - Pain Relief
L-Arginine Benefit & Side Effects
L-Lysine Cold Sore & Benefits
L-Taurine Benefit & Side Effects
L-Tryptophan 5 HTP & Depression
Monavie Acai Juice Drink Review
Milk Thistle Benefit & Side Effects
Mineral Supplements and Health
Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement
Piriformis Syndrome - Sciatic Pain
Pycnogenol Benefits & Side Effects
Saw Palmetto Herb Extract
Soy Protein Powder Benefits -1
Soy Protein Powder Benefits -2
Zrii Amalaki Drink Review


Vitamin Guides & Articles

Vitamin for Acne Treatment
Vitamin A & Beta Carotene
Vitamin A Deficiency & Carotene
Vitamin B Complex Benefit
Vitamin B1 Thimaine
Vitamin B1 Thiamine Deficiency
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Deficiency
Vitamin B3 Niacin
Vitamin B3 Niacin Deficiency
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid & Acne
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid Benefit
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine Health Benefit
Vitamin B7 Biotin & Hair Loss
Vitamin B7 Biotin Deficiency
Vitamin B9 Folic Acid Pregnancy
Vitamin B9 Folic Acid Deficiency
Vitamin B12 Benefit & Side Effects
Vitamin B12 Deficiency & Symptoms
Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C Health Benefits
Vitamin C Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin C and Vitamine E
Vitamin D Benefits
VItamin D Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin E Health Benefit
Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin K Food & Benefit
Vitamin K Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin K Supplements

Vitamin K Phytonadione & Vitamin K Food Sources

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin K is best known for its role in helping blood clot properly, and in preventing excessive bleeding. It also plays an important role in bone health. The "K" is derived from the German word "koagulation". Coagulation refers to blood clotting, because vitamin K is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood clotting.

There are two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K. Plants synthesize phylloquinone, also known as vitamin K1. Bacteria synthesize a range of vitamin K forms, using repeating 5-carbon units in the side chain of the molecule. These forms of vitamin K are designated menaquinone-n (MK-n), where n stands for the number of 5-carbon units. MK-n are collectively referred to as vitamin K2.

Health Benefit of Vitamin K

The only known biological role of vitamin K is that of the required coenzyme for a vitamin K-dependent carboxylase that catalyzes the carboxylation of the amino acid, glutamic acid, resulting in its conversion to gamma (g)-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla). Although vitamin K-dependent carboxylation occurs only on specific glutamic acid residues in a small number of proteins, it is critical to the calcium-binding function of those proteins.

The ability to bind calcium ions (Ca2+) is required for the activation of the seven "vitamin K-dependent" clotting factors in the coagulation cascade. The term, "coagulation cascade," refers to a series of events, each dependent on the other that stops bleeding through clot formation. Vitamin K-dependent gamma (g)-carboxylation of specific glutamic acid residues in those proteins makes it possible for them to bind calcium. Vitamin K dependent coagulation factors are synthesized in the liver. Consequently, severe liver disease results in lower blood levels of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors and an increased risk of uncontrolled bleeding (hemorrhage).

Although vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, the body stores very little of it, and its stores are rapidly depleted without regular dietary intake. Perhaps, because of its limited ability to store vitamin K, the body recycles it through a process called "the vitamin K cycle." The vitamin K cycle allows a small amount of vitamin K to function in the g-carboxylation of proteins many times, decreasing the dietary requirement.

Food Sources Rich in Vitamin K

Vitamin K is most commonly found in green leaf-like food like spinach, green tea, cabbage, turnip greens, and brussels sprouts. Other foods high in Vitamin K include alfalfa, soybeans, cheddar cheese, oats, and cauliflower. So if you’re a big salad eater, chances are that you’re getting a very healthy dose of Vitamin K.

Below are good sources of vitamin K and food containing vitamin K:

  • Soya beans
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Wheat bran
  • Wheat germ
  • Cauliflower
  • Lettuce
  • Beef, liver
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage