Vitamin K
1. What is the nutrient?
Vitamin K
2. What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient?
The FOB at the IOM recommends the following:
Life Stage
Infants
Infants
Children
Children
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Breast-feeding
Breast-feeding
AI for Vitamin K
Age
Males (mcg/day)
0-6 months
2
7-12 months
2.5
1-3 years
30
4-8 years
55
9-13 years
660
14-18
75
19 years and older
120
18 years and younger 19 years and older
18 years and younger 19 years and older
-
Females (mcg/day)
2
2.5
30
55
60
75
90
75
90
75
90
3. How is the nutrient metabolized?
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that requires bile salts in order for it to be absorbed
into the small intestines. Typical absorption rates are around 80%. Most absorption
occurs in the terminal ileum.
4. What are food sources of the nutrient?
Olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, mayonnaise, broccoli, kale, spinach, green leaf lettuce,
Chard, watercress, parsley. It is also synthesized by the large intestine.
5. What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism?
Liver disease in which there is a decrease in bile salts can lead to altered Vitamin K
Metabolism, also diseases of the small intestine could affected Vitamin K absorption.
6. What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body?
Prothrombin time measures the amount of time required for blood to clot properly, a
delayed clotting time can indicate a deficiency.
7.
What is the drug –nutrient interactions?
Vitamin K is known to interfere with blood thinners and anticoagulants, such as warfarin.
8.
How is the nutrient measured?
It is measured in micrograms.
9. What is the Upper Tolerable Limits?
There is no known toxicity.
10.What are the physical signs of deficiency?
Impaired blood clotting, bruising, bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine
and stool, heavy menstrual periods.
11.What are physical signs of toxicity?
N/A
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/Y2809E/y2809e0g.htm
http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/misc_topics/vitamink.html
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminK/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002407.htm