How Much Vitamin K Is In Cinnamon?

The scientific name for cinnamon is Cinnamomum aromaticum. Cinnamon is used to add flavor and spice to a number of foods and beverages. It may also help lower blood glucose levels in people who have diabetes, reduce blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and have anti-microbial effects.

Vitamin K

The fat-soluble vitamin K clots your blood and helps maintain strong, healthy bones. This vitamin gets its name from the German word koagulation. Vitamin K is most concentrated in green leafy vegetables, including spinach, kale, greens, Swiss chard, Romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuces and parsley. Vitamin K can also be found in cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Fish, meat, eggs, liver and cereals contain small amounts of vitamin K.

Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin K

The Institute of Medicine has not established a recommended dietary allowance for vitamin K, but it has identified an adequate intake level based on the average amount healthy individuals consume. For adolescents and adults, the adequate intake for vitamin K for males and females aged 14 to 18 is 75 mcg per day. The AI for vitamin K for males and females aged 19 and older is 90 mcg per day.

Vitamin K Content of Cinnamon

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, 1 tsp., or 2.6 g, of ground cinnamon contains 0.8 mcg of vitamin K, 6 calories, 0.1 g of protein, 2.1 g of carbohydrate and 0.03 g of fat. Ground cinnamon is not a significant source of vitamin K in the diet.

Special Considerations

For people who take blood-thinning medications, or anti-coagulants, to prevent blood clots, vitamin K intake needs to be consistent each day because vitamin K or foods that have significant amounts of vitamin K may affect how the medication works in the body. Although you may not need to eliminate or limit vitamin K-containing foods if you are taking an anti-coagulant medication, having major fluctuations in your vitamin K intake from day to day could affect the proper dosage of this medication. Always discuss any changes to your diet with your health care provider.