Vitamin k
Vitamin K
Vitamin K (pronounced: /ˈvaɪtəmɪn 'keɪ/) is a group of structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamins found in foods and marketed as dietary supplements. The human body requires vitamin K for post-synthesis modification of certain proteins that are required for blood coagulation, and in metabolic pathways in bone and other tissue.
Etymology
The name "vitamin K" comes from the German word "Koagulationsvitamin" which means coagulation vitamin. This is because vitamin K is involved in the coagulation (or clotting) of blood.
Types of Vitamin K
There are two main types of Vitamin K:
- Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone): Found in green vegetables. K1 goes directly to your liver and helps you maintain healthy blood clotting.
- Vitamin K2 (menaquinone): Made by the bacteria that line your gastrointestinal tract. K2 goes straight to your blood vessels, bones, and tissues other than your liver.
Related Terms
- Coagulation: The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot. It potentially results in hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel.
- Phylloquinone: Another term for Vitamin K1.
- Menaquinone: Another term for Vitamin K2.
- Hemostasis: The process of stopping bleeding, or preventing the blood from flowing out of the body.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vitamin k
- Wikipedia's article - Vitamin k
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