Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Vitamin K - Phylloquinone and Menaquinone
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in two forms: Phylloquinone (Vitamin K1) and Menaquinone (Vitamin K2). Vitamin K is primarily used in for controlling blood coagulation (the clotting of blood) and is necessary for the formation of the liver protein that controls coagulation. Vitamin K is used in the creation of prothrombin, which combines with calcium salts to form thrombin. Thrombin is then mixed with other enzymes to form blood clots to stop bleeding from occurring.
Vitamin K can help in the prevention of osteoporosis, which is the loss of calcium from our bones. Vitamin K also helps in the process of bone formation and repair. Osteocalcin is a protein that forms when bone are created. Osteocalcin can be found in bones, cartilage, and soft body tissues. Vitamin K is needed to to help in bone mineralization when osteocalcin is formed. When food is passed through the intestines, Vitamin K helps convert glucose (sugar) to glycogen. Glycogen is a form of sugar in a storage state. Glycogen is stored in the liver when you eat excessive carbohydrates. Then in times of sugar shortages, glycogen is released and converted back to glucose.
A Vitamin K deficiency is one of the main causes of hemorrhaging (severe bleeding) in the body. When an infant is born with a Vitamin K deficiency, they can contract Hemorrhagic disease, which is a bleeding problem that occurs during the first few days of life. Other results of Vitamin K deficiencies include: postoperative bleeding (bleeding after a completed operation), internal bleeding (bleeding inside your body), hematuria (blood in the urine), muscle hematoma (a collection of blood within a confined space of muscle mass), nosebleeds, and Intracranial hemorrhages (an accumulation of blood in the skull).
Evidence has shown that Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) may help improve certain blood disorders called Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MDS increases the risk of contracting Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is a cancerous blood disease that causes immature white blood cells to form in the blood and in bone marrow. Dietary sources of Vitamin K include: leafy vegetables, cheese, liver, asparagus, coffee, yogurt, bacon and green tea.
Vitamin K can help in the prevention of osteoporosis, which is the loss of calcium from our bones. Vitamin K also helps in the process of bone formation and repair. Osteocalcin is a protein that forms when bone are created. Osteocalcin can be found in bones, cartilage, and soft body tissues. Vitamin K is needed to to help in bone mineralization when osteocalcin is formed. When food is passed through the intestines, Vitamin K helps convert glucose (sugar) to glycogen. Glycogen is a form of sugar in a storage state. Glycogen is stored in the liver when you eat excessive carbohydrates. Then in times of sugar shortages, glycogen is released and converted back to glucose.
A Vitamin K deficiency is one of the main causes of hemorrhaging (severe bleeding) in the body. When an infant is born with a Vitamin K deficiency, they can contract Hemorrhagic disease, which is a bleeding problem that occurs during the first few days of life. Other results of Vitamin K deficiencies include: postoperative bleeding (bleeding after a completed operation), internal bleeding (bleeding inside your body), hematuria (blood in the urine), muscle hematoma (a collection of blood within a confined space of muscle mass), nosebleeds, and Intracranial hemorrhages (an accumulation of blood in the skull).
Evidence has shown that Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) may help improve certain blood disorders called Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MDS increases the risk of contracting Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is a cancerous blood disease that causes immature white blood cells to form in the blood and in bone marrow. Dietary sources of Vitamin K include: leafy vegetables, cheese, liver, asparagus, coffee, yogurt, bacon and green tea.
