Vitamin K is found chiefly in leafy green vegetables, particularly the dark green ones such as spinach and kale; mustard plants (e.g. cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts) are also high in Vitamin K as are some fruits such as avocado and kiwifruit . By way of reference, two tablespoons of parsley contain 153% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin K. Some vegetable oils, notably soybean, contain vitamin K, but at levels that would require relatively large caloric consumption to meet the USDA recommended levels.
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Vitamin K Info |
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What is Vitamin K? |
Where is Vitamin K found? |
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Vitamin K assists the body in blood coagulation. Vitamin K is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood clotting.
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What is the Recommended Intake? |
Vitamin K Deficiency |
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The intake of Vitamin K varies through age groups. infants should have between 2.0-2.5 mcg per day, young children between 30-60 mcgs per day, and its recommended that adults have between 75-90 mcgs per day. |
Vitamin K deficiency's result in impaired blood clotting, usually demonstrated by laboratory tests that measure clotting time. Symptoms include easy bruising and bleeding that may be manifested as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, blood in the stool, tarry black stools, or extremely heavy menstrual bleeding. In infants, vitamin K deficiency may result in life-threatening bleeding within the skull, medically referred to as an intracranial hemorrhage.
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Current Events |
Health Risks |
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In the early 1990's, two studies conducted stated that there was a link discovered between injections of vitamin k in newborns and childhood leukemia. However, more tests were done on the evidence and it was found that the link did not exist and was merely a coincidence |
Health risks regarding vitamin K usually revolve around breast-fed infants because breast milk does not contain high levels of vitamin k, making it difficult, without a supplement or formula, to provide the infant with the essential amount to provide protection to the body. |
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Healthful Diet |
| In order to consume the amount of vitamin k that would be beneficial to the body, a individual would need to eat a little more than 1/2 cup of chopped broccoli or a large salad of mixed greens every day. Though the dietary intake of vitamin K required for optimal function of all vitamin K dependent proteins is not yet known, it is recommended to take a multivitamin/mineral supplement and eating at least 1 cup of dark green leafy vegetables daily. Replacing dietary saturated fats like butter and cheese with monounsaturated fats found in olive oil and canola oil will also increase dietary vitamin K intake and may also decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases. |
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Description: Sources Recommended Intake Deficiency Current Events Health Risks Healthful Diet |