Vitamin K

Vitamin K was discovered in 1929 by a Danish scientist who was conducting experiments with chickens involving cholesterol depletion.  Known in Germany as Koagulationsvitamin because of its coagulating properties, the vitamin ended up being called “Vitamin K”. By 1939 synthesized Vitamin K was being produced.

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin, derived from alfalfa oil. Vitamin K is still being studied for its ability to help the body protect against disease and promote bone health.  Vitamin K has also shown to play a role in cell growth (through the Vitamin K dependant protein Gas6) and has more recently been studied for its role in preventing cancer and its role as a cosmetic product (to reduce darkness under the eyes). 

Vitamin K has recently been introduced into the herbal wellness community and serves many functions regarding liver health, menstrual flow control and more. 

Vitamin K Benefits

Below is a list of benefits of Vitamin K:

Blood clotting function: Vitamin K plays a pivotal role in blood clotting. Taking small amounts of Vitamin K can prevent a deficiency which can result in excessive bleeding.  It has been suggested that Vitamin K be administered to newborns to prevent Carcinogenicity or vitamin K deficiency related bleeding.

Bone Health:  Vitamin K is recognized as a treatment for osteoporosis in Japan, and has been proven to increase bone mass through calcium bonding.

Alzheimer’s disease:  Along with many other vitamins, Vitamin K has antioxidant properties which may help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  Its antioxidant properties help reduce cell death through oxidation.

Cancers:  Vitamin K has been shown (in Japan) to reduce the chances of liver cancer in patients who already have cirrhosis of the liver.   Later, a team of German scientist found in a study that Vitamin K significantly decreased the onset of prostate cancer.

Liver function:  Vitamin K is believed to help with the normal functioning of the liver.

Menstruation:  Some naturalists take small dose of Vitamin K in order to curb excessive menstrual flow.

Vitamin K Food Sources

Vitamin K1 and K2 can be found in a large variety of food sources.  In general, Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli and can also be found in some fruits and even eggs.  Below is a list of foods containing Vitamin K (the green leafy vegetables generally having the highest concentration:

•    Leafy Vegetables:  Broccoli, kale, spinach, watercress, leaf lettuce, swiss chard parsley, brussel sprouts, cabbage, alfalfa
•    Other vegetables: string beans, potatoes, soybean, turnips, peas, cauliflower
•    Oils:  Olive oils, soybean oil, canola oil, fish liver oil
•    Dairy:  Cow’s milk, yogurt
•    Meats: Pig and beef liver
•    Egg Yolk
•    Kelp

Vitamin K Deficiency

Generally the risk of Vitamin K deficiency is quite rare.  It is however more common in newborns than adults.  This is because in some occasions there are very low levels of Vitamin K in a mother’s breast milk.  Alcoholism can also cause Vitamin K deficiencies particularly when there is damage to the liver.  Other people who are more likely to have a Vitamin K deficiency are people with IBD or IBS, people with cystic fibrosis, people who take anticoagulants and in some case bulimics. 

The most notable symptom of Vitamin K deficiency is the loss of the ability to clot the blood.  This can manifest in excessive menstrual flow, excessive bleeding of the gums, frequent nose bleeds, anemia and bruising.

Vitamin K Overdose

There is no known toxicity associated with Vitamin K1 and K2.  Only in the rare case of an allergic reaction were there any adverse effects to taking over the daily recommended amount of Vitamin K1 and K2.  The exception is Vitamin K3 (menadione), which is rarely taken as a supplement but has been used to treat Vitamin K deficiencies in the past.  Vitamin K3 was found to cause liver toxicity, jaundice, and haemolytic anemia.