Is Potassium Related To Vitamin K?

Potassium and vitamin K are both essential to the body and have one other similarity. Vitamin K and potassium are both referred to as "K" in some health arenas. However, vitamin K and potassium are not interchangeable, especially under the circumstance of medical treatment. Potassium is a macro-mineral, and vitamin K is an essential vitamin.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps blood clot normally and helps in building bones. Excellent food sources of vitamin K include cabbage, cauliflower and spinach. Vitamin K can also be produced in small amounts from the bacteria in your intestines. Healthy adult men need 120 mcg per day, and women need 90 mcg per day. Deficiencies are rare because it is easy to get the recommended amount in a normal diet. However, those suffering from intestinal disorders such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis or alcoholism might also suffer from vitamin K deficiency.

Potassium

Potassium is a mineral involved with metabolism and proper functioning of cells, tissues and organs. More specifically, it assists in the regulation of the pH balance in the body, assists in protein synthesis, helps build muscle, helps the body grow, and is vital for the normal electrical activity that takes place in the heart. Potassium can be found in many different foods, including meats, poultry, fish, soy products, broccoli, legumes, tomatoes, potatoes, squashes, a variety of fruits, dairy products and nuts. Like vitamin K, a deficiency rarely occurs due to diet, and can occur with the intake of medications such as diuretics, laxatives or steroids. For healthy adults, 4.7 g, or 4,700 mg, of potassium are recommended per day.

Vitamin K and Potassium

It has often been thought by the layman that vitamin K is the same thing as potassium because potassium on the periodic table of elements is represented with a "K." This, however, is not the case. Unlike potassium, a mineral in its simplest form, vitamin K makes up a family of compounds called quinones. The three common forms of vitamin K are K1, K2 and K3, all with unique chemical structures that do not include potassium. These compounds have completely different jobs in the body from potassium.

Deficiencies and Excessive Intake

Both vitamin K and potassium can be hazardous to health if too little or too much is consumed. A vitamin K deficiency can cause bruising and excessive blood loss due to the inability of the blood to clot. Too much vitamin K can be harmful for those receiving dialysis due to kidney disease and might make clotting problems worse in those suffering from liver disease. Low levels of potassium can cause abnormal heart rhythms, a breakdown of muscle fibers, constipation, fatigue, muscle weakness and paralysis. Too much potassium in the blood can also cause an irregular heartbeat, along with nausea and a slow, weak or absent pulse.