Vitamin K Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Vitamin K is a nutrient found in food sources like cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, and other green, leafy vegetables. It can also be found in smaller amounts in a variety of cereals, fish, eggs, and more. Outside of food sources, vitamin K can be created by bacteria in the intestines. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning the body stores it in its fat tissue and liver. Vitamin K plays an important role in the body, especially in bone health and blood clotting. There are three forms of vitamin K, but only one is available in the U.S. as a supplement, which can be purchased in tablet, liquid, or capsule form.^1,2,3

Vitamin K Uses and Health Benefits

Vitamin K is important for the body because it helps create proteins that are important for bone and blood health.⁴ Some vitamin K benefits include for:

• Osteoporosis - Vitamin K is crucial to bone health because your body needs it to use calcium, which is needed for building bone tissue. Higher levels of vitamin K are associated with lower risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
• Nosebleed - Since your body uses vitamin K for blood clotting, it may help in reducing nosebleeds.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis - Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms inside a vein deep in the body and is common in the legs. Since vitamin K benefits the blood, it may help with this condition.
• Ovarian Cancer - Vitamin K is believed to help patients with ovarian cancer.
• Scars - Vitamin K may have benefits on scars when taken orally.

Vitamin K Side Effects and Precautions

Vitamin K is considered safe. In recommended doses, vitamin K side effects are rare. If you do not get enough vitamin K, a deficiency may occur, which can include side effects like bruising and bleeding.However, this is extremely rare since gut bacteria can synthesize vitamin K.^2,3,6 Vitamin K deficiencies can occur in infants, individuals taking long-term antibiotics, people with liver disease, and patients with conditions that affect vitamin K absorption in the digestive tract.^{2, 3, 4} 

Vitamin K supplements should not be taken by anyone using blood thinning medications or by patients on dialysis.³ Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin K supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Discuss other medications or herbs you’re taking with your doctor to ensure interactions won’t occur.

References

1. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/reports/images/vitamin-k-source
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002407.htm
3. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-k
4. https://medlineplus.gov/vitamink.html
5. http://www.umm.edu/programs/heart-and-vascular/services/vascular-disease/conditions/deep-venous-thrombosis
6. http://www.herbs2000.com/vitamins/v_k.htm