Vitamin K - sources - daily dose

 Vitamin K

 

Type: VitaminOverdose risk:low-high

Other names: Menadion, Fitomenadion, Vitamin K1, Vitamin K2, Vitamin K3

page contents 

What is Vitamin K?

Cases that require the addition of a vitamin/mineral

Deficiency symptoms

Symptoms and risks in case of an overdose

Pharmaceutical preparations

Sources

The required dose in cases of deficiency

 

Recommended daily dose

Types of foods that contain the vitamin/mineral

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it needs fats to move through the bloodstream. Vitamin K is found in many organs of the body, such as the brain, heart, and bones. The beneficial bacteria in the intestines are able to manufacture vitamin K.

 

Cases that require the addition of a vitamin/mineral

Doctors may prescribe vitamin K to people who have:

 

Excessive bleeding and difficulty in blood clotting.

Osteoporosis.

 

Deficiency symptoms

The main symptom of vitamin K deficiency in the body is excessive bleeding. Other symptoms for adults include:

 

Bruising easily.

Blood clots under the nails.

Mucous membrane hemorrhage.

Dark stools that contain some blood.

In newborns, vitamin K deficiency may be observed in the following cases:

 

The area where the umbilical cord was removed bleeds.

Bleeding from the skin, nose, gastrointestinal tract, or other areas.

Penile bleeding if the child has been circumcised.

Sudden hemorrhage in the brain, which is serious and life-threatening.

Symptoms and risks in case of an overdose

Vitamin K toxicity is extremely rare. The only reported toxicity comes from menadione. Its toxicity is believed to be related to its water-soluble properties. Symptoms of too much vitamin K include:

 

Jaundice is caused by excess bilirubin in the blood.

hemolytic anemia;

The cornea in infants (Kernicterus).

 

Pharmaceutical preparations

Vitamin K can be obtained from pharmacies without a prescription, alone, or in a variety of vitamin and mineral preparations. 

 

It is available in the form of injection or oral administration, but it is intended to treat bleeding problems, it can be obtained by prescription only and given under medical supervision.

 

Sources

The most important sources of vitamin K include the following:

 

Leafy vegetables.

Root vegetables.

fruits.

Seeds.

cows milk.

In children and adults, the gut bacteria produce a large part of the necessary amount of vitamin K.

 

The dose is determined individually according to the nature and severity of the situation.

 

Recommended daily dose

men

2.0 - 120

women

2.0 - 90

pregnant

90

details

Recommended doses include:

 

 

Age group  Male (µg)    female  ( µg )       Pregnant women  ( mcg )          Lactating women  ( mcg )

0-6 months 2.0     2.0               

7–12 months        2.5     2.5               

1–3 years   30      30                

4–8 years   55      55                

9–13 years 60      60                

14–18 years         75      75      75      75

19+ years   120    90      90      90

Types of foods that contain the vitamin/mineral

bread and cereal

green vegetables

fruits

the milk

root vegetables