Vitamin K is needed for proper bone formation and blood clotting. In both cases, vitamin K does this by helping the body transport calcium. Vitamin K is used by doctors when treating an overdose of the drug warfarin (Angelo). Vitamin K also helps to prevent and fight osteoporosis, a disease that affects more than 25 million Americans (Booth). Adults ages 18 to 44 who take in about 1 mg per 2.2 pounds of their body weight per day of vitamin K have proper bone formation and consequently decreasing their chances of Osteoporosis. .
In a study including 148 people testing bone mineral density was examined and they had a vitamin K intake, those with lower bone density had a mean vitamin K intake of 161 ug per day; those with higher bone density took 217 ug per day (Weber 882). Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for the production of prothrombin and several other proteins involved in the blood clotting system, and the bone protein osteocalcin. Deficiency causes impaired blood coagulation and haemorrhage. Two groups of compounds have vitamin K activity: phylloquinones, found in all green plants, and a variety menaquinones synthesized by intestinal bacteria. Dietary deficiency is unknown, except when associated with general malabsorption diseases. Some new-born infants are at risk developing haemorrhagic disease as a result of low vitamin K status, and it is general practice to give a single, relatively large dose of the vitamin by injection (Bender 382). Vitamin K was discovered in 1935 in Copenhagen (Mahan 90). Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables, such as kale, spinach, collards, broccoli, and asparagus. The greener the plant the higher the vitamin K content is. Other significant dietary sources of the vitamin are soybean oil, olive oil, canola oil, beef liver, cereals, and cheese (Booth). .
It is estimated that 54% of postmenopausal white women in the United States have osteopenia and another 30% have osteoporosis.
