Vitamins K and E are two of the four fat-soluble vitamins required daily in small amounts for human health. They perform a variety of functions in the body. The primary role of vitamin K is in aiding in normal blood clotting and forming bone, while vitamin E is an antioxidant nutrient which helps to protect cell membranes and may enhance immune system function.
Normal Blood Clotting
About 50 percent of the vitamin K your body needs is naturally produced by bacteria in your intestines. According to the Colorado State University Extension website, one of the most important functions of vitamin K is that it plays an essential role in normal blood clotting. In fact, the "K" comes from the German word "koagulation," which refers to the process of blood clot formation. Without sufficient amounts of vitamin K, hemorrhaging can occur.
Bone Mineralization
There are three vitamin K-dependent proteins that play a role in maintaining healthy, strong bones. These proteins are thought to be related to bone mineralization, facilitating normal bone growth and development, increasing bone density and decreasing the risk of bone fractures. In fact, vitamin K deficiency, particularly in post-menopausal women, has been clearly tied to a greater risk of bone fractures.
Protects Cells
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, or a substance that prevents charged oxygen-like particles from combining with and damaging the fats in cell membranes. According to the Women Fitness website, when fats that make up cell membranes react with oxygen, they break down and are ultimately destroyed. In addition to protecting cell membranes and enhancing cellular communication, vitamin E may also help keep blood cells from breaking down.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, a vitamin K-dependent protein known as Gas6 is present throughout the nervous system and, though the exact mechanism of its action has not been determined, it appears to play a role in regulating cellular growth. Like vitamin E, it also participates in cell-signaling activities.
Healthy Skin and Disease Prevention
According to the World's Healthiest Foods website, in addition to enhancing cellular communication, vitamin E protects skin from ultraviolet light. Although more research is needed before conclusive links between vitamin E and cardiovascular health can be made, there is some evidence that vitamin E protects against the development of prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
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