Vitamin K

Vitamin K – Helps in Blood Clotting and prevents hemorrhages

Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that help in blood clotting and also in proper functioning of liver. It is a fat soluble vitamin. It helps to prevent hemorrhages. Vitamin K is made up in colon by intestinal bacteria. Vitamin K is also important for the production of protein called prothrombin. Hemorrhages occur because there is a fall in prothrombin which is helpful in blood clotting.
There are two forms in which Vitamin K exists. One is Vitamin K1 which occurs only in plants, yellow oil, slightly soluble in water and soluble in fat solvents. Another Vitamin K2 is also found to be produced by many bacteria.

CHARACTERISTICS OF VITAMIN K
- No effect of light.
- No effect of heat.
- No effect on exposure to air.
- Destroyed by strong acids, alkalis, oxidizing agents, x-rays, radiation.
- Absorbed with fat and passed through lymphatic system.

FUNCTIONS OF VITAMIN K IN BODY
- Vitamin K helps in blood clotting.
- Vitamin K prevents hemorrhages.
- Vitamin K helps in the absorption of calcium.
- The hardening of arteries is prevented by vitamin K.
- Vitamin K prevents heart disease.
- Vitamin K prevents heart failure.
- Vitamin K is also important for proper functioning of liver.
- Vitamin K helps in the reduction of menstrual flow.
- Vitamin K helps in osteoporosis.

The best sources of Vitamin K are green leafy vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, spinach. It is also present in yogurt, soy beans. Cow’s milk is better source than human milk.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN K
- Damage to brain of new born.
- Bleeding of nose.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Takes lot of time in blood clotting.
- Anemia.
Avoid a great amount of vitamin K because it may lead to liver problems or jaundice in kids.

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WHAT ARE VITAMINS AND MINERALS ?

WHAT ARE VITAMINS AND MINERALS –

Vitamins are organic substances (made by plants or animals), minerals are inorganic elements that come from the soil and water and are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals.

A vitamin is a small molecule that your body needs to carry out a certain reaction. Your body has no way to create vitamin molecules itself, so the vitamin molecules must come in through food that you eat. The human body is known to need at least 13 different vitamins:

• Vitamin A (fat soluble) – Retinol; comes from beta-carotene in plants (When you eat beta-carotene, an enzyme in the stomach turns it into Vitamin A.)

• Vitamin B (water soluble)
  B1-Thiamine; B2- Riboflavin; B3- Niacin; B6- Pyridoxine; B12- Cyanocobalamin;

• Folic acid

• Vitamin C (water soluble) – Ascorbic acid

• Vitamin D (fat soluble) – Calciferol

• Vitamin E (fat soluble) – Tocopherol

• Vitamin K (fat soluble) – Menaquinone

• Pantothenic acid (water soluble)

• Biotin (water soluble)