A fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin K is produced by the body as well as ingested in green, leafy vegetables, meats and dairy products and sometimes as medicine prescribed by your doctor. Oral vitamin K is available in tablet or capsule form and should only be taken on the advice of your doctor.
Vitamin K Dosage
Mephyton, a brand of oral vitamin K, is a prescription medication used to treat individuals who are having blood-clotting problems or bleeding. It is available as a tablet in two forms: phytonadione or menadiol. Oral phytonadione is not recommended for children. The normal dosage for adults and teens is 2.5 to 25 mg. On rare occasions, a doctor may recommend up to 50 mg. Menadiol, however, can be given to both adults and children in the amount of 10 to 15 mg/day. Your doctor will decide the exact dosage you need to manage your condition.
Synthetic Vitamin K Supplements
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, both synthetic forms of vitamin K, menadione and phytonadione, are available as supplements in 5 mg tablets. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates, however, that an earlier ruling to allow menadione to be used as a dietary supplement at a maximum dosage of 1 mg/day has been revoked, and there has been no subsequent authorization issued for the use of this product as a supplement.
Natural Vitamin K Supplement
Phylloquinone is the natural version of vitamin K1 found in green plants. The nutrient comes from the chlorophyll, which imparts the green color to plants. Soluble chlorophyll is a common vitamin K supplement that is available over the counter and can be found in liquid, tablet or capsule form.
How Much Do You Need?
The Institute of Medicine indicates the following as adequate daily amounts of vitamin K by age: children age 1 to 3 years need 30 mcg, and from age 4 to 8 years, they need 55 mcg. The requirement is 60 mcg between age 9 and 13, then 75 mcg between 14 and 18, and from age 19 onwards, 120 mcg for males and 90 mcg for females.
Your body can make some vitamin K, and if your diet includes a variety of green, leafy vegetables, you should be able to meet your dietary vitamin K needs. If you have a medical problem that leads to vitamin K deficiency, your health care team will design a treatment plan, which may include oral vitamin K supplements, to help you keep your vitamin K levels in the acceptable range.
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