Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, which means it helps wounds heal properly. There's also some evidence vitamin K may help keep bones healthy. Good sources of vitamin K Vitamin K is found in: green leafy vegetables – such as broccoli and spinach Small amounts can also be found in meat and dairy foods. How much vitamin K do I need? Adults need approximately 1mcg a day of vitamin K for each kilogram of their body weight. For example, someone who weighs 65kg would need 65mcg a day of vitamin K, while a person who weighs 75kg would need 75mcg a day. You should be able to get all the vitamin K you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. Any vitamin K your body doesn't need immediately is stored in the liver for future use, so you don't need it in your diet every day. What happens if I take too much vitamin K? There's not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of vitamin K supplements each day.
What does the Department of Health advise? You should be able to get all the vitamin K you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin K supplements, don't take too much as this might be harmful. Taking 1mg or less of vitamin K supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm. Page last reviewed: 03/03/2017 Next review due: 03/03/2020 Useful linksNHS Choices linksDo I need vitamin supplements?Good food and dietVitamins and nutrition in pregnancyVitamins for childrenExternal linksBritish Dietetic Association: food fact sheetsHealthy Start Supplements: do you need them?Millions of us use supplements and vitamin pills, but are they doing us any good?There's been a wave of supplements launched containing Vitamin K, particularly K2. Why do people take them? Not everybody will have heard of Vitamin K2. But more and more of us are consuming it in supplements, according to market research firm Mintel.It says new food, drink, vitamin and supplement product launches containing Vitamin K2 have gone up 183% globally between 2008 and 2012.The better known form of Vitamin K, Vitamin K1, posted a healthy, but slower growth - 96% - over the same reviewed period.
The number of products containing Vitamin K1 still far outstrips those containing Vitamin K2. All types of Vitamin K were in 1% of all food, drink, vitamins and supplement launches last year, according to Mintel. But what is Vitamin K, what's the difference between K1 and K2, and why are people taking Vitamin K supplements?The NHS says Vitamin K has several important functions, for example blood clotting, which helps wounds heal properly. Babies are born with lower levels of Vitamin K, and for this reason the NHS offers an injection of it soon after birth to prevent internal bleeding problems.There is also increasing evidence fat-soluble Vitamin K is needed to help build strong bones. Adults need approximately 0.001mg a day of Vitamin K for each kilogram of their body weight, according to the NHS. It says people should be able to get all they need by eating a varied and balanced diet, with any not needed immediately stored in the liver for future use.It cites green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, vegetable oils and cereals as good sources of Vitamin K. Small amounts can also be found in meat such as chicken and dairy foods.
The NHS also advises that taking too many Vitamin K supplements might be harmful.Those taking anticoagulants should also take heed of the experience of an Ayrshire man with a mechanical heart, who was hospitalised after his eating too many Brussels sprouts - which contain lots of Vitamin K - counteracted their effect.So why are Vitamin K, and particularly Vitamin K2, supplements on the rise? Laura Jones, a global food science analyst at Mintel, says recent research has revealed Vitamin K2 has much broader health benefits than previously thought, and is increasingly being seen as a bone health ingredient."Vitamin K1 has a relatively short half-life and is rapidly cleared from the blood and is cleared by the liver within eight hours. In comparison vitamin K2 has a longer half-life of up to 72 hours, meaning it remains biologically active in the body for longer. "Vitamin K2 is also absorbed better by the body, and is linked to cardiovascular health. It directs calcium to the bones, and prevents it from being deposited where it shouldn't be, for example arteries and organs, where it can cause harm," she says.
The health claims for Vitamin K have had support from the European Food Safety Authority in recent years, with the body stating that "Vitamin K contributes to maintenance of normal bone," and "Vitamin K contributes to normal blood coagulation". The ageing population - especially in major markets like Europe, Japan, China and the US - is also having an impact on supplement sales, with an increase in osteoporosis resulting in more interest in bone health.The number of new products with bone health claims having grown 44% since 2009, according to Mintel. And while calcium and Vitamin D continue to be the most common vitamins in food and supplements making a bone health claim, Jones thinks that as consumers' awareness of Vitamin K2 increases, so will its prevalence. But not everyone is convinced. Dr Sarah Jarvis, a general practitioner and regular guest on the BBC's The One Show, says there is no evidence to suggest that people aren't getting enough Vitamin K."I can see no reason why normal healthy people would need a Vitamin K supplement or any supplement - with the exception perhaps of Vitamin D - it's far better to have a balanced healthy diet," she says.
She thinks supplements send the wrong message. "My feeling from young people that come into my clinic is that they think they can have a rubbish diet and take multi-vitamins to make up for it, which they can't. "And if older people are worried about their bones, it's more important they look at calcium and Vitamin D. Vitamin K is connected with clotting - too much can have a negative impact if, for instance, you're taking medicine like warfarin," she says. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on FacebookGeneric Name: phytonadione (fye toe na DYE own)Brand Name: Mephyton, Vitamin K Support Group Q & A Phytonadione is a man-made form of vitamin K, which occurs naturally in the body. Phytonadione is used to treat vitamin K deficiency and to treat certain bleeding or blood clotting problems. Phytonadione may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Don't Believe The Hype: How Multivitamins Conquered The Land Of The Free Never take phytonadione in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor.
You should not use phytonadione if you are allergic to it. To make sure you can safely take phytonadione, tell your doctor if you have liver disease. FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether phytonadione will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether phytonadione passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Never take this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. While using phytonadione, you may need frequent blood tests at your doctor's office. Use phytonadione regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. If you need surgery or dental work, tell the surgeon or dentist ahead of time that you are using phytonadione.
Store in the original container at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the container tightly closed when not in use. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: feeling like you might pass out; Common side effects may include: flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling); changes in your sense of taste; This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail) Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with phytonadione, especially: a blood thinner such as anisindione, heparin, warfarin, Coumadin; salicylates such as aspirin, Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan's Pills Extra Strength, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, and others. This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with phytonadione, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect.
Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides.