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All About Vitamin K
What is this Vitamin? Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that was discovered in 1929. While this nutrient may seem to have a shorter list of functions compared to other vitamins, it is the "K Vitamin" that steps in when the body sustains a cut or wound and stops the bleeding and begins the healing process.
This is because K's most famous role is to make prothrombin and other proteins which are important in blood clotting. This vitamin is often prescribed to surgery patients to prevent excessive bleeding and promote incision healing. Vitamin K shots are often given to infants 6 hours of birth to promote normal blood clotting. There is a trio of K vitamins which are as follows:
Other Benefits Recent studies suggest that this crucial vitamin plays a role in bone health and counters osteoporosis. Its role on building bones is unclear, but it is thought to work synergistically with calcium, and helps the body better absorb this vital bone health mineral.
The therapeutic uses of this vitamin include:
Recommended Daily Allowance
Precautions
Anyone taking blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) should consult a physician before taking any vitamin K supplements. Some experts point out that pregnant woman should not take large doses of synthetic vitamin K during the last few weeks of pregnancy because it can result in a toxic reaction in the newborn. It's important that everyone speak with their physician before taking any dietary supplements.
How to Choose a Vitamin K SupplementFirst, you need to be aware that dietary supplements are not strictly regulated in the U.S. and, as such, manufacturers do not have to prove the safety, effectiveness, or even the true content of their products. Is this a big problem? Yes. In fact, according to Consumerlab.com, the leading provider of independent test results states: "Testing by ConsumerLab.com shows that one in four supplements in the United States lacks the promised ingredients or has other serious problems."
Therefore, we advise that you purchase your supplement from pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities, which adhere to the most stringent manufacturing standards for supplements.
Second, the K vitamin aids calcium, and calcium needs magnesium and vitamin D to be effective. Therefore, one should consider a comprehensive formula that contains all of these nutrients together, rather than take a stand-alone vitamin K supplement. Featured Comprehensive Product Looking for K's health benefits? After years of taking and researching supplements, we here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre personally take an all-in-one highly sophisticated comprehensive multi-nutrient product called Total Balance from a New Zealand that is aptly named Xtend-Life Natural Products. It contains a full spectrum of over 70 nutrients, including the K vitamin, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. Total Balance is formulated by a highly credentialed scientific team that can blend these ingredients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, specialty nutrients, enzymes, potent antioxidants, herbal extracts, and others) perfectly to ensure maximum benefits, but as importantly that they also do not interact adversely. Plus, Total Balance is enteric coated to protect all of these ingredients against stomach acids and to ensure maximum bio-availability. In addition, the company adheres to strict pharmaceutical GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliance, which is the toughest in the industry.
We here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre have been taking Total Balance for several years now and can personally attest to its excellent results such as an increase in energy levels, mental clarity, and an increase feeling of well-being.
To Your Health! The Editors
Much more than vitamin K at our Vitamin Information Center |