The Vitamin K Content Of Baby Carrots

The Vitamin K Content of Baby Carrots

Jan 26, 2011 | By Emily Creasy

Your body needs vitamin K to function properly. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and may play a role in bone health. Although baby carrots are not especially high in vitamin K, they can be combined with other fruits and vegetables to help you meet your daily recommended vitamin K needs.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is needed for blood to clot. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is stored in the body's fat tissue. According to Medline Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, vitamin K may also play an important role in bone health. A study published in a 2001 issue of the journal "Nutrition" found that vitamin K intake helped to increase bone mineral density and decrease bone fractures in study participants.

Recommended Intake of Vitamin K

The National Institutes of Health recommends that adults older than age 19, consume 90 micrograms of vitamin K each day. Needs may vary slightly due to age, gender and pregnancy, so it is important to discuss your needs with your doctor. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the best way to meet your body's vitamin needs. Foods high in vitamin K include broccoli, collard greens, kale, spinach, onions and Brussels sprouts. Each provides 100 to 500 micrograms of vitamin K per serving.

Vitamin K in Baby Carrots

Based on data in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, a serving of raw baby carrots contains 8 micrograms of vitamin K. A serving of baby carrots is considered about 14 baby carrots.

Baby Carrot Nutrition Information

A serving of baby carrots provides 30 calories, 0.5 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 7 g carbohydrate and 2.5 g fiber. While they may not be a substantial source of vitamin K, a single serving of baby carrots meets more than five times your daily vitamin A needs. Vitamin A is a type of antioxidant that can help protect your body against cancer-causing free radicals. Medline Plus notes that vitamin A is also essential for vision, bone and immune system health. In addition to vitamin A, baby carrots meet 4 to 6 percent of your daily folate, vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and iron needs.