Vitamin K is a biologically active substance that is rarely mentioned, in comparison with other vitamins. Meanwhile, its important role in the process of vital activity of the organism is difficult to overestimate. After all, its lack makes an imbalance in the work of many systems of our body and can lead to serious diseases. Therefore, it will be extremely useful for many to know what vitamin K is and what it is for. It is noteworthy that the substance was given its name by the first letter of the name Kuik - that was the name of the American hematologist, who owns the honor of the discovery of this biological compound. It was he who first established that vitamin K in the body of a healthy person is formed regularly and in sufficient volume, if a person is weakened or sick, then he needs a special vitamin supplementation.
How useful is vitamin K?
This substance performs very important functions associated with the circulatory system. In particular, acts as a coagulant - responsible for the process of blood coagulability. If the body is deficient in vitamin K, then it is fraught with hemorrhages, local bleeding. This is very dangerous, because even from a small injury a person can lose a lot of blood, he can develop anemia and even leukemia. Particularly unpleasant consequences from the lack of this substance can be for pregnant women who may just bleed during labor and die.
In addition, vitamin K is necessary for the normalization of bone tissue: it, together with vitamin D, is involved in the process of calcium assimilation and helps to deliver it directly into bone cells. This substance also takes part in the synthesis of certain proteins that are necessary for the normal functioning of the heart. Vitamin K also protects the body from intoxication, it neutralizes the negative effect of poisonous biological compounds that are formed due to poisoning stale food. And he is also responsible for the normalization of blood sugar, so if he is deficient, a person can develop diabetes mellitus.
Signs of the fact that the body lacks vitamin K are prolonged bleeding even with small wounds, a constant causeless formation of bruises on the skin, a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, a disruption of the normal operation of the intestine, frequent constipation. Deficiency of vitamin K can appear due to a violation of the balance of microflora in the digestive tract, suppression of bladder and liver function, as well as in the presence of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, after taking antibiotics and some other medications.
The use of vitamin K
In a day, a person needs about 60-140 μg of vitamin K, the individual dose depends on the body weight - 1 μg of the substance should account for 1 kg of weight. With food, we absorb usually two to three times more vitamin K, but we still do not face an overdose. Vitamin K has no contraindications, since it is non-toxic and its excess is quickly eliminated naturally. Drug medications containing this substance are prescribed by the doctor only in special cases - severe loss of blood due to injuries, wounds, as well as ulcers, after chemotherapy, patients with radiation sickness.
Products containing vitamin K
Most of all vitamin K is found in foods of vegetable origin and green color: cabbage, leafy vegetables, green peas. Also a lot of it in the wild greenery - leaves of nettle, raspberry , whisk, needles. In sufficient quantity it is presented in green tea, root vegetables, soy, bread from wheat flour, liver, chicken eggs, spicy herbs.