Vitamin K is important for health, and most of the time our bodies make sufficient amounts of it. A deficiency of the vitamin can cause serious health problems. If you think you may have a vitamin K deficiency, talk to your doctor about an appropriate dosage of vitamin K for your situation. Since this vitamin has the potential to interact with certain medications, ask your doctor whether it is safe for you to take before using a supplement.
Background
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is stored in the body, particularly in the liver and fat. This vitamin is also produced by bacteria in the intestines, so a deficiency is fairly rare. If you are taking antibiotics, this can kill the bacteria in the intestines, causing a subsequent lack of vitamin K. Other risk factors for a deficiency of this vitamin include liver disease, hemodialysis, severe burns, use of blood-thinning drugs and illnesses involving absorption problems, such as Crohn's disease.
Effects on Blood
Vitamin K is known as a coagulant, meaning it helps the blood to clot. This vitamin helps make four of the 13 proteins involved in blood clotting, called the clotting cascade. Individuals taking medications to prevent blood clots are instructed not to consume excess amounts of vitamin K but instead to keep intake levels of this vitamin steady.
Bone Strength
Although calcium and vitamin D are associated with bone health, vitamin K is important for proper use of calcium in the bones. Individuals with osteoporosis have been found to have lower levels of vitamin K, compared to those with stronger bones. Vitamin K-dependent proteins encourage bone growth and development and help prevent the calcification of soft tissue and cartilage. Vitamin K may also help prevent bone fractures in postmenopausal women who may be at risk for osteoporosis.
Consumption
You can take vitamin K as a supplement or get it through dietary sources. Foods containing this vitamin include green tea, spinach, kale, asparagus and dark green lettuce. The three different kinds of vitamin K are K-1, K-2 and K-3. The type of vitamin K typically found in a multivitamin is usually either K-1 or K-3; these also come in single vitamin K supplements. Water-soluble chlorophyll is the most common type of vitamin K that is available without a prescription. It comes as a capsule, tablet or liquid.
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