Benefits Of Vitamin K

 

Vitamin K Essentials

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin found in its highest forms of green leafy vegetables, foods, and supplement forms.  The human body requires vitamin k for the biosynthesis of certain proteins that is required for blood coagulation, clotting, or controlling the binding of calcium in bones and other tissues. Vitamin K is found throughout the body including the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and bone  Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that is important in maintaining normal coagulation serving as a cofactor in the activation of several clotting factors including anticoagulant proteins. Dietary deficiency of vitamin K is rare as the usual causes of deficiency being malabsorption or pharmacologic inhibition National Library Of Medicine. Vitamin K plays a role in the prevention of osteoporosis, a medical condition in which bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue. The main symptom of vitamin k deficiency may present itself with a history of bleeding at the venipuncture site or with minor trauma.

A patient may also have a history of anticonvulsant, antibiotic, or other prescription drug use that may affect vitamin K absorption. Vitamin K deficiencies can influence cardiovascular. Osteoporosis diseases include other chronic diseases but these are multivariate conditions. High levels of vitamin K1 are found in green leafy vegetables while vitamin K2 is found in milk, meat, and butter products. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in two natural forms compounds phylloquinone vitamin K1 which is derived from plant sources and Menaquinones vitamin K2 which is derived from bacterial sources. Vitamin K is a cofactor found in green leafy plants which are the most dietary source for humans. Vitamin K is available in over the counter forms in tablets, capsules, and oral solutions and is also found in many multivitamin preparations. Life Extension Super complete formula vitamin K combines both vitamin K1 with two forms of vitamin K2 in a once daily gluten free, non GMO 90-day soft gel vitamin K supplement to help support bone, heart, and arterial health.

This formula provides a potent dose of 2600 mcg of vitamin K from both K1 and K2. Vitamin K helps maintain the body's calcium balance which affects everything from bone density to arterial health. If you are taking vitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin ) consult with your healthcare practitioner before taking this product. The human requirement of vitamin K has not been defined precisely but the daily recommendation of vitamin K daily adequate intake for adults is 90 ug for women and 120 ug for men. Vitamin K is available in multiple forms over counter preparations including tablets, soft gels, and capsule supplement forms. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables, collard greens, kale, spinach, turnip greens, Brussels sprouts, cabbage lettuce, soybean, canola oil, fortified food, meat, milk cheese and fortified replacement meal shakes.  Collard greens is naturally dense and is an excellent source of vitamin K as one cup of collard greens is only 11 calories, 2 g carbohydrates, 0.22 g fat, 1 g protein, 83.5 mg calcium has eight times the daily requirement vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, carotenoids, including zeaxanthin and lutein.

Because vitamin K is fat soluble it is best to eat a wide variety of foods rich in vitamin K with healthy monounsaturated fats like avocado, olive oil, and canola oil, to improve absorption.  

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn

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