Why Do People Take Vitamin K?
helping the blood clot, preventing excessive bleeding. The most important of these compounds appears to be vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. 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. Recently, some people have looked to vitamin K2 to treat osteoporosis and steroid-induced bone loss, but the research is conflicting. At this point there is not enough data to recommend using vitamin K2 for osteoporosi.
Contents
K is a group of vitamins that the body needs for blood clotting, helping wounds to heal.
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. Adults need approximately 1 microgram a day of vitamin K for each kilogram of their body weight.
For example, someone who weighs 65kg would need 65 micrograms a day of vitamin K, while a person who weighs 75kg would need 75 micrograms a day. A microgram is 1,000 times smaller than a milligram (mg). The word microgram is sometimes written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the letter g (μg).
Any vitamin K your body does not need immediately is stored in the liver for future use, so you do not need it in your diet every day.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Vitamin K?
There’s not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of vitamin K supplements each day. You should be able to get all the vitamin K you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
Benefits
Vitamin K benefits the body in various ways.
Several studies have suggested that vitamin K supports the maintenance of strong bones, improves bone density and decreases the risk of fractures. However, research has not confirmed this. Cognitive health Increased blood levels of vitamin K have been linked with improved episodic memory in older adults.
This enables the heart to pump blood freely through the body. Mineralization naturally occurs with age, and it is a major risk factor for heart disease. Here are sample some food sources of vitamin K: 10 sprigs of parsley contains 90 micrograms (mcg)
a 3-ounce serving of natto contains 850 mcg
a half-cup serving of frozen and boiled collard greens contains 530 mcg
one cup of raw spinach contains 145 mcg
1 tablespoon of soybean oil contains 25 mcg
a half-cup serving of grapes contains 11 mcg
a hard-boiled egg contains 4 mcg Most adults in the U.S. Are believed to consume enough vitamin K. Recipe tips These healthy recipes have been developed by a registered dietitian.
They can increase your vitamin K intake.