Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin K helps to form blood clots (a mass that forms when blood platelets, proteins, and cells stick together) and maintain strong bones. It is fat-soluble (can dissolve in fats and oils) and is found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli, liver, and vegetable oils. Vitamin K is also made by bacteria that live in the large intestine. Not enough vitamin K can lead to bleeding and bruising. It is a type of phylloquinone.

What is Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins required for the synthesis of proteins needed for blood coagulation and for calcium binding in bones and other tissues.

Chemical Structure of Vitamin K

Vitamin K Physiology

Sources of Vitamin K

Vitamin K Deficiency

Vitamin K Biochemistry

Newborn Vitamin K Injections

Vitamin K Uses

Vitamin K2: Physiological Importance and Increasing Your Intake

Latest Vitamin K News and Research

Anticoagulant drug linked to greater risk of knee and hip replacements in patients with osteoarthritis

New research presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows that use of warfarin, a vitamin K drug widely prescribed to prevent blood clots, is associated with a significantly greater risk of knee and hip replacements in patients with osteoarthritis.

6 Nov 2020

Dried plum diet prevents spinal cord injury‐related bone loss

Findings from a new study among mice show a diet high in dried plum (prunes) completely prevents bone loss associated with spinal cord injury (SCI), while also restoring some of the bone lost following SCI.

6 Oct 2020

High levels of blood clotting factor V in severe COVID‐19 associated with worse outcomes

Patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infections who have high levels of the blood clotting protein factor V are at elevated risk for serious injury from blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found.

8 Sep 2020

ESC and EACTS develop guidelines for diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation

ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS).

31 Aug 2020

Broccoli and Brussels could be beneficial in preventing advanced blood vessel disease

New research from Edith Cowan University has shown some of our least favorite vegetables could be the most beneficial when it comes to preventing advanced blood vessel disease.

21 Aug 2020

Study shows least favorite vegetables can prevent advanced blood vessel disease

New research has shown some of our least favourite vegetables could be the most beneficial when it comes to preventing advanced blood vessel disease.

20 Aug 2020

New vitamin K-based drug eliminates medication-resistant epileptic seizures in mice

In the cover article of the June 11 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, a team of researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina, led by Sherine Chan, Ph.D., and James Chou, Ph.D., reports that a new vitamin K-based drug has proved effective in mouse models of medication-resistant seizures.

6 Jul 2020

Vitamin K may offer protective health benefits as we age, study suggests

A new, multi-ethnic study found older adults with low vitamin K levels were more likely to die within 13 years compared to those whose vitamin K levels were adequate.

15 Jun 2020

AHA calls for specialized care for pregnant women with cardiovascular conditions

Women with cardiovascular conditions should be cared for during pregnancy by a cardio-obstetrics team or health care providers experienced in high-risk pregnancies to provide specialized maternity care for the mother and fetus, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, Cardiovascular Considerations in Caring for Pregnant Patients, published today in the Association's flagship journal Circulation.

4 May 2020

Secondary analysis reinforces safety of blood thinner

Treatment with the blood thinner apixaban was associated with a lower risk of bleeding, death and hospitalization compared with warfarin, regardless of history of prior stroke or blood clot, according to a secondary analysis presented as late breaking science today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020.

23 Feb 2020

Edoxaban-based dual therapy noninferior to standard treatment in atrial fibrillation post-stenting

Edoxaban in combination with a P2Y12 inhibitor is noninferior to standard triple therapy for preventing bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation after coronary stenting.

4 Sep 2019

Why cilantro (coriander) is good for your health

Scientists have uncovered the molecular action through which the herb cilantro delays the onset of certain seizures in epilepsy and other diseases.

25 Jul 2019

Review provides new recommendations to manage menopausal symptoms after breast cancer

A large proportion of the world's estimated 9.3 million breast cancer survivors experience menopausal symptoms or clinical manifestations of estrogen deficiency.

10 Jul 2019

Older adults with low circulating vitamin K levels more likely to develop mobility limitation, disability

Low levels of circulating vitamin K are linked to increased risk of mobility limitation and disability in older adults, identifying a new factor to consider for maintaining mobility and independence in older age, according to a study led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

13 Jun 2019

Vitamin K

Overview

Chemical Structure of Vitamin K

Vitamin K Physiology

Sources of Vitamin K

Feature Articles

Vitamin K Deficiency

Vitamin K Biochemistry

Newborn Vitamin K Injections

Vitamin K Uses

Vitamin K2: Physiological Importance and Increasing Your Intake

Latest Vitamin K News and Research

Anticoagulant drug linked to greater risk of knee and hip replacements in patients with osteoarthritis

Dried plum diet prevents spinal cord injury‐related bone loss

High levels of blood clotting factor V in severe COVID‐19 associated with worse outcomes

ESC and EACTS develop guidelines for diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation

Broccoli and Brussels could be beneficial in preventing advanced blood vessel disease

Study shows least favorite vegetables can prevent advanced blood vessel disease

New vitamin K-based drug eliminates medication-resistant epileptic seizures in mice

Vitamin K may offer protective health benefits as we age, study suggests

AHA calls for specialized care for pregnant women with cardiovascular conditions

Secondary analysis reinforces safety of blood thinner

Edoxaban-based dual therapy noninferior to standard treatment in atrial fibrillation post-stenting

Why cilantro (coriander) is good for your health

Review provides new recommendations to manage menopausal symptoms after breast cancer

Older adults with low circulating vitamin K levels more likely to develop mobility limitation, disability

Warfarin-treated patients benefit from increasing their vitamin K intake, finds study

Supplements provide no additional health benefits, conclude researchers

Research identifies first case of a person without vitamin D binding protein

Plant-based whole food diet can reduce gingivitis, shows study

Innovative micronutrient-rich food developed for elderly people with swallowing difficulties

Study reveals vitamin B12 as inhibitor of key enzyme in hereditary Parkinson's disease

Treating post-infectious smell loss in COVID-19 patients

A paper-based sensor for detecting COVID-19

Cadmium linked to more severe flu and pneumonia infections

Vitamin K

Overview

Feature Articles

Vitamin K Deficiency

Vitamin K Biochemistry

Newborn Vitamin K Injections

Vitamin K Uses

Vitamin K2: Physiological Importance and Increasing Your Intake

Latest Vitamin K News and Research

Newsletters you may be interested in