Vitamin K, also called Phytonadione, is an important fat soluble vitamin. It’s the vitamin responsible for helping blood to clot. Without proper amounts of Vitamin K, wounds wouldn’t be able to properly clot and bleeding would not stop. Because of this, Vitamin K is a necessary part of our daily diet.
The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin K is 120 micrograms a day. Vitamin K is stored in fatty tissue and is pulled from these tissues as needed. Because of this, Vitamin K deficiency is quite rare. When a Vitamin K deficiency does occur, it’s usually based around a digestive tract problem where Vitamin K is not properly absorbed for long periods of time. Bruising and excessive bleeding usually accompany a deficiency of Vitamin K. While deficiencies can cause serious health problems, there is no danger associated with taking excessive quantities of Vitamin K.
Vitamin K is naturally produced in the digestive tract of healthy people through the action of beneficial intestinal bacteria. This action can be supplemented by taking probiotics supplements. Vitamin K is also found in a variety of foods. A healthy diet with plenty of green leafy vegetables can ensure that proper amounts of Vitamin K are consumed. Likewise, Kiwi Fruit and Avocados are high in Vitamin K. It’s quite easy to get the amount of Vitamin K needed to have a healthy diet.
Sometimes supplements of Vitamin K are needed. In particular, newborns receive a dose of Vitamin K in the form of Phytonadione after they are born in order to ensure that they have proper amounts of Vitamin K in their bodies and do not suffer from a Vitamin K deficiency. Others who suffer from a Vitamin K deficiency may also receive Phtyonadione supplements.
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