Vitamin K : Deficiency, Supplements, Precautionary measures & Scientific Studies

(Vitamin K also helps in maintaining our bone health by transporting calcium throughout our body)

Recalling Vitamin K

We read at my previous article that, Vitamin K1 is the natural form of vitamin K. Found in plants, it is the primary source of vitamin K that humans obtain through foods. Vitamin K1 is also the preferred form of vitamin K because it is less toxic, works faster. It is also stronger and works better for certain conditions. As an essential vitamin, vitamin K does have deficiency states and our body attempts to regulate its levels. 

Deficiency

While vitamin K deficiencies are rare in adults, they are very common in newborn infants. Newborns who are premature or those whose mother had to take seizure medications during pregnancy prone to vitamin K deficiency. Sometimes taking antibiotics can kill the bacteria that produces vitamin K in our gut and lead to a mild deficiency, mostly in people with low levels to begin with. Vitamin K deficiency occurs to people who are suffering from liver disease, gallbladder/biliary disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease. Vitamin K deficiency occurs to people who are going through Hemodialysis, taking blood thinners or in a condition of serious burns. People who are severely malnourished and people who drink alcohol heavily they are also found in a stage of Vitamin K deficiency. When we are deficient in vitamin K, below mentioned things happen to us.

• Low levels of vitamin K can raise the risk of uncontrolled bleeding. 
• Low levels of vitamin K can make bones weak and tooth decay.
• low levels of vitamin K are associated with a higher risk of osteoarthritis.
• Low levels of vitamin K can lead to Heart disease and Cancer.
• Very low levels of Vitamin K are known to lead to muscular and subcutaneous hemhorrhages.
• Very low levels of Vitamin K can lead to excessive bleeding, which may begin as oozing from the gums or nose.
• With low levels of vitamin K, various enzymes can not perform well that require vitamin K to perform.

Supplements

Unfortunately, it is difficult to obtain high levels of vitamin K from food alone because the average intake of this important nutrient is incredibly low in the modern diet. Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin K is not typically used as a dietary supplement but supplementation of vitamin K is a wise decision. There have been no adverse effects of vitamin K seen with the levels found in food or supplements. 

• Vitamin K is used to counteract an overdose of the blood thinners.
• Mothers on seizure medications are often given oral vitamin K for 2 weeks before delivery. 
• Vitamin K improves bone health and reduces the risk of bone fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women who are at risk of osteoporosis.
• Backed by research, Japan officially recommend vitamin K supplementation for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
• Male and female athletes also get benefit in their bone health with vitamin K supplementation.
• The effect of supplementing vitamin K2 can be better by combining with a vitamin D supplement, as the two vitamins have synergistic effects.
• People whose bodies can’t absorb enough vitamin K or suffering from gallbladder/biliary disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease and Crohn's disease can get more benefit from a multivitamin tablet/capsule containing vitamin K than an individual vitamin K supplement.
• Women who are experiencing excess menstrual bleeding, they can be benefited by supplementing vitamin K as it helps in reducing the blood flow out of their body.
• Pregnant women who are suffering from vomiting and nausea can be benefited by supplementing Vitamin K. 
• Asthmatic children can be treated through continuous intake of oral supplements of vitamin K.

Precautionary measures

One can cure his/her vitamin-K deficiency by taking normal multivitamin minerals supplement as in recommended doses, vitamin K has no side effects. But people with certain health conditions must take precautionary measures for example :

• Vitamin K crosses the placenta and found in human breast milk. So, pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding should talk to their physician before taking vitamin K supplements.
• People with Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency should avoid vitamin K.
• People who take warfarin (Coumadin) should not take vitamin K.
• People who are receiving dialysis for kidney diseases must not take too much vitamin K.

Scientific studies 

• As per an observational study continued over a 7 to 10 year period revealed that, people who had the highest intake of Vitamin K2 were 52% less likely to develop calcification of the arteries and had a 57% lower risk of dying from heart disease.
• A study conducted on some postmenopausal women for three year found that those taking vitamin K2 supplements had much slower decreases in age-related bone mineral density. 
• According to some research comparisons, Along with helping our blood to clot properly, Vitamin K plays critical roles in protecting our heart, building our bones and optimizing our insulin levels. It is sometimes referred to as "the forgotten vitamin" because its major benefits are often overlooked.