Vitamin+K

Other names: coagulation vitamin, phytomenadione, phylloquinone, phytonadione or vitamin K1, menaquinone, menatetrenone or vitamin K2, menadione or K3.

Name comes from German - koagulation for it’s role in blood coagulation.

Freezing destroys the vitamin while cooking does not.

2 main forms: Phytomenadione (K1) causes coagulation, comes mainly from green vegetables Menaquinone (K2) prevents calcification of soft tissue, produced by bacteria in the colon or appears in some food after fermentation

Functions
-Coagulation -Prevents calcification of soft tissues (transport of blood calcium) -Maintaining the walls of blood vessels -Decreased Bruising -Prevents colds and flu -Strong maintenance of capillaries

Daily Needs

 * 0-6 months || 2mg. ||
 * 7-12 months || 2.5mg. ||
 * 1-3 years || 30mg. ||
 * 4-8 years || 55mg. ||
 * 9-13 years || 60mg. ||
 * 14-18 years || 750mg. ||
 * Adult Males || 120mg. ||
 * Adult Females || 90mg. ||

Pro-Compounds
-Healthy Intestinal Flora

Anti-Compounds
-Antibiotics -Alcohol -Mineral Oils -Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (trans fats) -Certain ant cholesterol medications (cholestyramine, cholestypol) -Certain antiobesity medications (orlistat) -Certain anticonvulsant medications (phenytoine, carbamazepine and Phenobarbital)

Deficiency
Frequent in newborns and treated through supplementation. Rare in adults but can happen in serious liver, bile duct, or intestinal dis-eases which require medication

Symptoms: -Impaired Blood Coagulation -Increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis

Excess
Almost nonexistent at recommended doses. Few rare cases of hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in premature newborns treated w/ high doses

Food Sources
K1: -Green Vegetables (particularly the very green broccoli(180mg/100g.), kale, spinach (308mg/100g.), collards, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts (180mg/100g.) -Seaweed -Soy and Canola Oils (lesser degree) -Molasses (lesser degree)

K2: Normally present in healthy colon. Found in: -Miso (fermented soy) -Liver -Milk -Cheese -Yogurt -Fish Oils

Therapeutic Indications
-Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Dis-eases of impaired absorption: -Celiac Dis-ease -Crohn’s Dis-ease -Cystic Fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis)