Coagulation refers to the process your body goes through to arrive at a blood clot that is designed to stop your body from bleeding when it suffers an injury. The two main pathways to coagulation are extrinsic and intrinsic. Both mechanisms rely on clotting factors to eventually lead to the development of fibrin, a protein that ultimately forms the clot. Although the pathways differ, each one involves a cascade of the development of different clotting factors -- all of which rely on vitamin K.
Extrinsic Coagulation
The extrinsic mechanism for a blood clot is initiated by clotting factors that are first released by the damaged blood vessel. Kenneth S. Saladin, author of "Anatomy and Physiology," explains that clotting factor III begins this pathway, which initiates the factor VII. Factor VII combines with calcium, which works to form factor X and fibrin.
Intrinsic Mechanism
The intrinsic mechanism is a little more complicated. This begins when degranulating platelets release factor XII. The release of this factor leads to the production of factor XI, then factor IX and finally factor VIII, which produces factor X and ultimately fibrin. Each clotting factor is prompted by the one that precedes it, so this chain reaction is very important and is the only way that factor X will be produced.
The Clotting Factors and Vitamin K
Vitamin K is an integral part of the production of a blood clot. In fact, it is so important that it earned its name from a Danish man that discovered it. He named the vitamin "koagulation," the way a Danish man would spell coagulation.
Each clotting factor can only be produced by vitamin K. It is the action of vitamin K that leads to the molecular changes that produce each clotting factor. For example, when factor X is made, it must be converted to prothrombin before fibrin can be produced. Vitamin K adds a carbon to factor X to convert it into the prothrombin protein. This change also allows for fibrin to be produced.
Recommendations
Since vitamin K is such an important vitamin, it is essential that your dietary intake is adequate. Recommended intakes of vitamin K vary by gender. An adult male should consume 120 mcg per day, while an adult female needs only 90 mcg per day. Vitamin K can be eaten in plant-based foods such as spinach, turnips and soy.
References
- "Anatomy and Physiology"; Kenneth S. Saladin; 2004
- "Nutrition"; Paul Insel, et al.; 2011
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