Vitamin K

Vitamin K is essential to our very survival. That is because there is a function dependent upon vitamin K without which life could not exist, not even for a second: blood clotting. Vitamin K controls this life or death function by stimulating the synthesis of blood-clotting factors in the liver.

Henrik Dam of Denmark discovered this nutrient and indirectly gave it its name, the initial “K” being derived from the Danish word “koagulation.” His fascinating research documented how animals fed low-fat diets developed internal bleeding and thinning of the blood. In 1935 Dam provide final proof that Vitamin K, a component of fatty foods, is essential for the maintenance of normal blood clotting.

Severe vitamin K deficiency is potentially life threatening, although such extreme reductions in vitamin K levels are relatively rare. However, that is only because the human body has a stop-gap; it can synthesize enough vitamin K on a daily basis to keep blood clotting normalized. Vitamin K is synthesized in the liver but is also produced by certain naturally occurring intestinal organisms. The intestinal organisms are of such major importance in the synthesis of vitamin K that a disruption in their integrity readily leads to a deficiency. According to Robbins’s Pathological Basis of Disease, intestinal bacterial synthesis is “the most important source” of Vitamin K. Thus, drugs which alter or destroy the intestinal bacterial flora, such as antibiotics and cortisone, are a primary cause of vitamin K deficiency.

Recent research has delineated the importance of dietary intake for maintaining optimal vitamin K status. Top food sources include alfalfa meal, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, liver, and lean meats.

Which of these apply to you?

1. easy bruising

2. bleeding gums

3. spontaneous hemorrhaging (bleeding from the ears, nose, or rectum, etc.)

4. petechiae (tiny blood spots on the skin)

5. bone loss and/or frequent fractures

6. poorly formed (sloppy) stools

7. intermittent and/or chronic diarrhea

8. Have you taken numerous dosages of antibiotics in the past?

9. do you have a history of repeated miscarriages?

10. Do you avoid eating dark green leafy vegetables?

11. Have you had a portion of your small intestines or colon removed?

12. Do you consume chlorinated water?

13. Do you avoid eating red meats and/or organ meats?

14. Are you on a low cholesterol diet and/or are you taking cholesterol-lowering medications?

15. Do you have intestinal parasitic infection?

16. Do you have chronic candidiasis ( i.e. chronic yeast infection)?

17. Are you on coumadin or Heparin therapy?

18. Do you suffer from Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, dumping syndrome, or ulcerative colitis?

19. Do you take birth control pills on a regular basis, or have you in the past taken them over a prolonged time?

20. Are you currently taking antibiotics on a daily or weekly basis?

21. Do you have pancreatic and/or liver disease?

22. Do you consume alcoholic beverages on a daily basis?

23. Do you suffer from gallbladder attacks, or do you have gallstones?

24. Has your gallbladder been removed?

25. Do you suffer from gluten intolerance (celiac disease)?

26. Do your peripheral blood vessels burst easily?

27. Do you have a significant family history of stroke, or have you suffered a stroke?

28. Do you have spider or varicose veins?

29. Do you suffer from osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)?

30. Do you take mineral oil or castor oil on a regular basis?

Your Score _____

1 to 6 points Mild vitamin K deficiency: At this level correction should be readily achieved through dietary measures. Increase the intake of dark green leafy vegetables and take alfalfa leaf meal as a daily nutritional supplement.

7 to 15 points Moderate vitamin K deficiency: Take a multiple vitamin tablet containing vitamin K plus take alfalfa leaf poser on a daily basis. Consume hefty helpings of raw dark greens every day. Take a acidophilus supplement on a daily basis and avoid consumption of all antibiotics.

16 and above Severe vitamin K deficiency: If your are suffering from repeated episodes of bleeding, see your doctor immediately. Stop taking aspirin, cholesterol-lowering medicines, blood thinners, and antibiotics at once, since these drugs destroy vitamin K. Take a multiple vitamin containing vitamin E daily, since it helps conserve and regenerate vitamin K. Vitamin C and bioflavonoid supplements may also prevent bleeding. Most importantly, check with your health food store to see if natural vitamin K supplements are available. If so, take 2 or more capsules daily for at least 60 days. Consume friendly bacteria supplements daily with meals to reestablish bacterial flora in the gut. Avoid commercial meats, since they contain residues of antibiotics.