Vitamin K - Phytonadione

Vitamin K is necessary for proper bone growth and blood coagulation. It accomplishes this by helping the body transport calcium.

Solubility: Fat

Functionality:
Vitamin K is known as the clotting vitamin, because without it blood would not clot. Some studies indicate that it helps in maintaining strong bones in the elderly. Vitamin K plays an important role in the intestines and aids in converting glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver, promoting healthy liver function.

Rich Sources:
Green Leafy Vegetables, Beef Liver and Cheese. It is also found in asparagus, coffee, bacon and green tea. Vitamin K is also made by the bacteria that line the gastrointestinal tract.

Deficiency Disease:
Bleeding Diathesis, Delayed clotting & Hemorrhaging, Cholestatic Constipation, Patients may show signs of bruising easily and have nosebleeds.

Overdose Disease: Brain Damage and Impaired Liver Function

Deficiency Symptoms:
Symptoms include prolonged clotting time, easy bleeding, and bruising. This deficiency is rare in adults and normally limited to those with liver or food absorption disorders. However, it may occur in premature babies.

Deficiency Occurs in:

1. People with certain Malabsorption diseases
2. Hospitalized patients who had poor food intake and were receiving antibiotics
3. Sometimes develop in breast-fed infants

1. Men: 80 mcg
2. Women: 65 mcg
3. Pregnancy: 65 mcg
4. Lactation: 65 mcg