JAKARTA – Vitamin K has a no less important function for the body. This vitamin is very beneficial for optimal blood clotting and prevention of excessive bleeding.
SRV India Hospitals Nutrition Dietitian Neha Choudhary said that vitamin K is not usually used as a dietary supplement but can be found in green vegetables.
“However, vitamins K1 (phytonadione) and K2 (menaquinone) are generally available in supplement form,” Choudhary said as quoted by BetweenTuesday (27/12).
Vitamin K has various health benefits, one of which is to thicken the blood. This vitamin plays an important role in wound healing and reversing the harmful effects of blood-thinning medications.
Another function is to prevent bleeding disorders in infants, which indicate a bleeding disorder caused by a lack of vitamin K.
Not only that, vitamin K is also needed to improve bone health. Together with vitamin D, it promotes the calcium binding action necessary for healthy function of bones and gums.
“It strengthens skeletal structure, increases bone density and reduces the chance of fractures in the elderly,” says Choudhary.
According to research, this vitamin prevents mineralization in the artery walls and keeps blood pressure in check, thus allowing the heart to pump blood smoothly throughout the body, promoting heart health. Vitamin K also helps the problem of osteoporosis, bone loss and dental health.
Additionally, Choudhary said that vitamin K can activate the production of osteocalcin, which is necessary for the growth of new dentin (calcified tissue under tooth enamel).
This keeps the tooth strong from the root and prevents loss or decay. According to the available evidence, vitamin K is also needed to improve memory in the elderly.
“It’s also used to treat itching, which occurs as a result of biliary cirrhosis, and it’s also known to lower blood cholesterol in people on dialysis,” Choudhary said.
If a person has low vitamin K levels, it can increase the chances of uncontrolled bleeding.
“While vitamin K deficiency is rarely seen in adults, it’s very common in infants. A single injection of vitamin K for infants can help,” she says.
According to Choudhary, vitamin K is also used to treat overdoses of blood thinners or Coumadin. A deficiency of this vitamin means easy bruising, small blood clots under the nails, and bleeding from the area where the umbilical cord was removed.
“It’s easy to have bleeding in the skin, nose and digestive tract and sudden bleeding in the brain, which can be fatal,” Choudhary said.
Vitamin K can be obtained from spinach, asparagus, broccoli, nuts such as soybeans, eggs, strawberries, okra, kale, prunes, parsley, soybeans, squash, kiwi, avocados, blueberries, lettuce, cauliflower, cheese, milk and yogurt.
