Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. Like other fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K is stored in the liver and body fat until it is needed. Vitamin K plays a role in:
- Proper blood clotting
- Bone formation and bone health
- Heart health
- Soft tissue health
- Cellular function
Vitamin K deficiency is rare in adults but can be seen in patients with liver, biliary, pancreatic and malabsorptive disorders. Vitamin K deficiency will lead to increased bleeding risk and can present with symptoms such as:
- Easy bruising
- Nosebleeds
- Bleeding gums
- Blood in the urine or stool
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
Adequate Intake of Vitamin K is 120 micrograms daily for men and 90 micrograms daily for women. There are numerous food sources to provide your daily amount of Vitamin K.
Food Sources of vitamin K include:
- Brussel Sprouts
- Green beans
- Beet Greens
- Mustard greens
- Kale
- Spinach
- Collard greens
- Swiss chard
- Iceberg lettuce
- Parsley
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Asparagus
- Prunes
- Kiwi
- Broccoli
- Bok Choy
- Pumpkin
- Soybeans
- Pomegranate juice
- Soybean oil
- Canola oil
- Chicken breast
- Pork Chops
- Beef liver
Try lunch or dinner with chicken breast and sautéed greens and you will be well on your way to adequate Vitamin K!
This article is for information purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult with your medical provider prior to any lab testing, diet changes or new supplement/medication.
References:
Institute of Functional Medicine Fact Sheet. Micronutrients: Vitamins. Accessed 2020
National Institutes of Health- Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin K. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminK-HealthProfessional/
Uptodate.com. Pazirandeh et al. Overview of Vitamin K. November 2020.
All photos used with permission from Snappa.com