Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the fat cells (known as adipose tissue), liver and pancreas. It has many functions, and research at the Mayo Cancer Center in Minnesota found that "the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphomas -- cancer of the immune system -- was approximately 45 percent lower for those whose vitamin K intake was in the top quarter, vs. those whose intake of the vitamin was in the bottom quarter."

Vitamin K deficiency is uncommon in healthy adults because it is found in a variety of foods and is conserved through a process called the "vitamin K cycle." There are three forms of vitamin K:

-- Vitamin K1, the dietary form found in green leafy vegetables

-- Vitamin K2, naturally synthesized by normal colon bacteria

-- Vitamin K3, a major contributor in the blood clotting process

Most people have no idea what vitamin K's function is in the body. It regulates blood clotting, occurring when any injury results in a tear in a blood vessel. It transports calcium out of the blood vessels and into those bones deficient of the mineral. It prevents the calcification of organs and other soft tissues.And it promotes healthy bones and reduces fractures, especially among postmenopausal women.

The vitamin is predominately found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, kale and broccoli, as well as in a small group of vegetable oils (such as olive, cottonseed, soybean and canola). A liquid form can be found in water-soluble chlorophyll, and vitamin K is also enriched in foods that contain Olestra a substance added to many weight-loss products because it blocks absorption of fat. (The substance may also reduce the body's ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. The Food and Drug Administration now requires that vitamin K, as well as the other fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E, be added to food products containing olestra.)

Although vitamin K deficiencies are rare, certain diseases can interfere with vitamin K's production cycle, such as liver disease, gallbladder disease such as fat malabsorption syndrome, platelet disorders, Crohn's disease, and celiac disease.

Most individuals receive their daily recommended amount of vitamin K through diet and by taking a daily multi-vitamin. However, too much vitamin K, either in dietary form or in supplements, can interfere with the medicinal effects of certain medications such as anticoagulants like warfarin, and with anticonvulsants like isoniazid.

On the other hand, some medications can interfere with the body's ability to utilize vitamin K. These medications interfere with the absorption of dietary fats and therefore, may block the proper absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins K, A, D, and E): Phenytoin, Orlistat, Olestra, Cholestyramine and Colestipol.

Balancing the medicinal and nutritional needs of the body can often be a delicate process. Therefore, always consult with your physician before taking any self-help remedies.

 

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