In this article we will be discussing a very common question: vitamin k3.
What Is Vitamin K3?
Vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone health. Vitamin K3 is a synthetic, artificially produced form of vitamin K that doesn’t occur naturally. This is unlike the other two forms of vitamin K — vitamin K1, known as phylloquinone, and vitamin K2, called menaquinone.
Though vitamin K3 isn’t legally sold in supplement form for humans due to safety concerns, it’s commonly used in poultry and pig feed, as well as commercial pet foods for dogs and cats
Why Aren’T There Vitamin K3 Supplements?
Plenty of other vitamins get created safely in labs.
Why Is K3 Different?
Although it was sometimes used as a dietary supplement in the 20th century, research on K3 in the ’80s and ’90s revealed that it could cause liver damage. In fact, as an injection, K3 has been known to induce liver toxicity, jaundice, and anemia from ruptured blood cells.
Another Unpleasant Side Effect?
K3 can interfere with one of your body’s naturally occurring antioxidants, glutathione. As a result, it can increase oxidative damage to your cells — the exact opposite of all that antioxidant-rich eating you may try to do.
Why Do People Take Vitamin K?
helping the blood clot, preventing excessive bleeding.
Vitamin K is actually a group of compounds. Vitamin K2 is a group of compounds largely obtained from meats, cheeses, and eggs, and synthesized by bacteria. Vitamin K1 is the main form of vitamin K supplement available in the U.S.
Good Sources Of Vitamin K
Vitamin K is found in: green leafy vegetables – such as broccoli and spinach
vegetable oils
cereal grains Small amounts can also be found in meat and dairy foods.