Vitamin K
What is vitamin K?
Vitamin K is a
fat soluble vitamin and is made by
bacteria that live in your colon. It’s then absorbed back into your bloodstream to conduct a variety of important tasks in your body.
What vitamin K does for you
Vitamin K helps your blood clot. It also plays an important role in producing the
proteins that keep your teeth and bones healthy.
How much vitamin K you need?
No RDA has been established. An average diet will supply 75–150mcg a day. It is seldom found in
supplements as your body makes its own vitamin K. The only people that need supplementation are those who’ve had large sections of their bowel removed, or people with digestive absorption problems.
Which foods have vitamin K?
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, yoghurt, green cabbage, alfalfa, egg yolk, oils such as soya bean oil and fish liver oil, and kelp.
Signs of vitamin K deficiency
Heavy blood loss during menstruation can be alleviated by taking vitamin K. Post-menopausal women who lose calcium in their urine can halt the loss by taking vitamin K. It can also alleviate nausea during
pregnancy. Blood-thinning drugs can inhibit the absorption of vitamin K.
