Health benefits of vitamin K
Our body requires vitamin K for blood coagulation , it helps to prevent blood loss during cuts, wounds and injuries. It helps to control binding of calcium in bones, improves bone health in our body. It may help to prevent osteoporosis. It also improves cardiovascular health by calcifying arteries . It is used to treat rat poisoning.
Sign and symptoms of deficiency vitamin K
- It may cause uncontrollable bleeding.
- Weakening of Bones.
- It may cause osteoporosis.
- It reduced clotting and increased bleeding.
- It may cause bleeding in infants leads to brain damage and death. (It is prevented by intramuscular injection)
Sign and symptoms of toxicity vitamin K
No toxicity known but vitamin K1 has been associated with severe adverse reactions such as bronchospasm ( tighten bronchi and make airway narrow) and cardiac arrest when given intravenously.
Source of vitamin K
Vitamin K sources are collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, asparagus, kiwi fruit, cabbage, tomato, potato, sweet potato, blueberries, carrot, hazelnuts, grapes, mango, olive oil, courgette (zucchini or summer squash), pear, milk, cheese, bread, yoghurt, butter, pork, chicken, goose, beef, fish, molluscs and salmon.
Intake of vitamin K
Daily consumption of recommended levels based on scientific knowledge are judged by food and nutrition board adults - 120 μg/day, pregnancy women - 90 μg/day, lactation - 90 μg/day, infants upto 12 month - 2 to 2.5 μg/day and children 1 to 18 age - 30 to 75 μg/day.