Vitamin K is considered to be a fat-soluble vitamin, which is present in the intestines of the human body. The most vital role that vitamin K plays is in controlling blood clotting and preventing blood loss during injury.
Vitamin K also helps in assisting the absorption of calcium content from food, which helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy bones.
Vitamin K consists of a group containing 2-methilo-naphthoquinone derivatives. The three notable forms of vitamin K are K1 (phytonadione, phylloquinone, phytonactone), K2 (menaquinones), which is formed by natural bacteria present in the intestines, and K3 (menadione), according to healthdiaries.com.
Vitamin K provides a total balance of 80 nutrients that are essential for the human body. This includes minerals, antioxidants, neuronutrients, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, herbal extracts, carotenoids, various trace elements, bioflavonoids and other complementary co-factor ingredients, according to healthdiaries.com.
Health Benefits of Vitamin K
Calcification
The build-up of calcium inside tissue, or calcification, can become a serious problem that may lead to cardiovascular disease. Vitamin K helps prevent calcification by contributing to the process called carboxylation. This process produces the matrix Gla protein (MGP) that directly prevents calcium from forming in tissue. Without a proper supply of vitamin K, and thus MGP, the body is at greater risk of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Antioxidant
Though vitamin K has not been shown to be an antioxidant in the same sense as vitamin C and E, the basic forms of vitamin K, including phylloquinones and menaquinones, have been shown to protect cells from oxidative stress.
Prevent Cancer
Studies in leading cancer journals have shown Vitamin K to be beneficial against many types of cancer including: lung, leukemia, prostate and liver cancer.
Blood Clotting
Another primary function of Vitamin K is to regulate blood clotting, due to the role in amalgamation of prothrombium. This is an automatic process that happens at the time of injury due to tears in blood vessels. Blood clotting consists of a set of molecules, which are continuously circulating through the bloodstream. Vitamin K helps in the regulation of blood clotting by transporting calcium around the body. Protein Z helps in enhancing the action done by thrombin so as to promote an association with phospholipids that are present in cell membranes. Vitamin K2 helps in improving blood disorders called myelodyplastic syndromes.
Excessive Menstrual flow
A woman experiencing excess menstrual bleeding would be deficient in Vitamin K. This will help in reducing the blood flow out of the body.
Internal Bleeding
Vitamin K helps in reducing the threat of bleeding in the liver, poor nutrient absorption, jaundice or the combination of long term use of antibiotics or aspirin. Some of the problems associated with the gastrointestinal system due to a decrease of this vitamin include obstructions, sprue, Crohn's disease, and colitis. These are due to a reduced content of Vitamin K.
Anti-Inflammatory
Healthy vitamin K levels have been shown to significantly lower the release of the glycoprotein interleukin-6, a marker of inflammation within the body.
Brain Function
The myelin sheath, or the outer wrapping around a nerve, needs sphingolipids to form properly. Vitamin K is known to be essential for the synthesis of the sphingolipids, and therefore proper brain and nervous function.
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women suffering from vomiting and nausea are often deficient in Vitamin K. This Vitamin intake will show good results by providing relief in less than seventy two hours and preventing mild forms of these symptoms in the future.
Immune Systems
In order to boost Vitamin K levels, the intake of Young Coconut Kefir, Coco-Biotic, Raw Cultured Vegetables, Milk Kefir, Liquid Spirulina by a human body can be very beneficial. This will help in increasing the content of Vitamin K and protect the digestive and immune systems.
