In 1929 this was first observed that vitamin K played a critical role in blood clotting and the Danish researcher Henrik Dam named it vitamin K for “Koagulation “. It comprises a family of compounds nown as quinones. Its absorption depends on normal consumption and digestion of dietary fat. It is primarily stored in the liver.
Benefits of vitamin K
It is because of this vitamin that you would not bleed to death after an injury as it is essential for blood clotting. It is a group of chemicals that our body uses to make specialized proteins found in blood plasma ( the clear fluid in blood ) , such as prothrombin, the protein chiefly responsible for blood clotting.
Current research also suggests that this vitamin might play a role in maintain strong bones in the elderly. You need this to make bone and kidney tissues. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption; vitamin K activates at least three different protein s that take part in forming new bone cells.
Rich sources of vitamin K
Vitamin K is found from following sources.
Interestingly, bacteria that live in our intestine help to make most of this vitamin we require.The rest can be found in variety of foods.
Turnip greens
Cauliflower
Spinach
Beef liver
Broccoli
Kale
Cabbage
Cheese
Cereals
Vitamin K deficiency:
Its deficiency causes uncontrollable bleeding mainly in newborn babies because their immature intestinal tracts do not have much bacteria to produce this vitamin.
Apart from this, people taking antibiotics temporarily lose the ability to make this vitamin as the medication destroys bacteria, both good and bad.