Vitamin K is found in both vegetable and some animal food products. People need to regularly replenish their supply of vitamin K since this fat-soluble vitamin is not stored in the body. A vitamin K deficiency can result in slowed blood clotting. Learn more about vitamin K and what foods it is found in, including corn oil.
Benefits of Vitamin K
Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting in the human body; it helps blood coagulate properly. Vitamin K also helps in the growth of cells. Vitamin K is also helps with the development of bones, and it is sometimes used for osteoporosis treatment. For adults, the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin K is between 65 mg to 80 mg a day.
Common Vitamin K Food Sources
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, swiss chard, cabbage and broccoli are especially high in vitamin K. Vegetables such as okra, cucumber and asparagus also have moderate amounts of vitamin K. Other foods with vitamin K include milk, plums, cashews, turkey, miso and blueberries. Some diet foods and nutritional supplements, such as SlimFast, also contain vitamin K, as well.
Medical Conditions and Vitamin K
Some babies have a deficiency in vitamin K since they cannot manufacture it on their own. Many newborns are given vitamin K in the hospital to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding or VKDB, a possibly fatal condition. Adult patients taking the drug warfarin should look at the vitamin K content of all foods they eat. An irregular amount of vitamin K can interfere with the medicine's ability to thin blood. Liver disease can also affect vitamin K levels.
Corn Oil and Vitamin K
Corn oil is not considered a major source for vitamin K. For warfarin patients, corn oil may be a good substitute for other cooking oils or fats that have higher levels of vitamin K. One tablespoon of corn oil has .3 mcg. One cup of corn oil has 4 mcg of vitamin K. Olive oil, canola oil, margarine and mayonnaise all have higher levels of vitamin K than corn oil.
Additional Nutritional Information for Corn Oil
Corn oil has 120 calories per a tablespoon. It contains 14 g total fat, including 2 g saturated fat, 8 g polyunsaturated fat and 4 g monounsaturated fat. It also is a source for vitamin E, with 10 percent of your daily allowance in one tablespoon. Corn oil also has no cholesterol.
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