Vitamin K is an essential nutrient that is required for healthy blood clotting and other body functions. This vitamin is also important for producing compounds that maintain the health of veins and other blood vessels, helping prevent calcification of the veins, which can lead to insufficient blood flow to areas of the body. However, vitamin K can also adversely interact with certain medications. Consult your doctor before taking supplements of this nutrient.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble essential nutrient that is named for it's role in blood clotting, or coagulation. This vitamin is also important in bone and blood vessel health. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that there are three forms of vitamin K: vitamins K-1, K-2 and K-3. Vitamins K-1 and K-2 are the types most commonly found in supplements, and the most common source of vitamin K in a health supplement is water-soluble chlorophyll. Healthy bacteria colonies in the intestines also produce vitamin K. As infants are not born with these bacteria in their intestines, they must receive vitamin K from breast milk.
Vein Health
A study published in the medical journal "Zeitschrift für Kardiologie" reports that vitamin K plays a key function in the synthesis of two known proteins that are important in calcium and bone metabolism. These proteins, osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein, or MGP, are also powerful inhibitors of vascular calcification, or hardening of the veins and arteries due to calcium buildup. Hence, healthy levels of vitamin K are also important for maintaining vein health by preventing narrowing and hardening of these blood vessels.
Vitamin K Deficiency
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that it is rare to have a vitamin K deficiency because you receive this nutrient from plant-based foods and from healthy bacteria in the intestines. However, taking antibiotics can kill this useful bacteria and may cause a deficiency of vitamin K. Symptoms of a deficiency include bleeding from the nose or gums. Medical conditions such as gallbladder disease, celiac disease, Crohn's disease and cystic fibrosis can prevent the absorption of vitamin K, leading to a deficiency.
Warfarin Interaction
Vitamin K functions in the body's blood clotting mechanism and may interact with prescription medications such as warfarin that thin the blood and prevent blood clots. This interaction can lead to adverse effects while trying to treat blood clots in the veins and other blood vessels. The Mayo Clinic advises that while eating a balanced diet that provides adequate levels of vitamin K likely will not interfere with your blood-thinning medications, you should not ingest supplements. You should also try to consume the same amount of vitamin K daily and not vary your intake.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Possible Interactions With: Vitamin K
- Mayo Clinic; Warfarin Diet: What Foods Should I Avoid?; Sheldon G. Sheps; May 2010
- "Zeitschrift für Kardiologie"; Role of Vitamin K and Vitamin K-Dependent Proteins in Vascular Calcification; LJ Schurgers, et al., 2001
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