Vitamin K
| Vitamin K | |
|---|---|
| Drug class | |
 Vitamin K structures | |
| Class identifiers | |
| Use | Vitamin K deficiency, Warfarin overdose |
| ATC code | B02BA |
| Biological target | Gamma-glutamyl carboxylase |
| Clinical data | |
| Drugs.com | Medical Encyclopedia |
| External links | |
| MeSH | D014812 |
| Legal status | |
| In Wikidata | |
Vitamin K[1] is a vitamin which is soluble in fat. It is probably best known for its role in the coagulation (clotting) of blood. However, it also serves other important functions in the body.
Vitamin K was discovered by a Danish chemist named Henrik Dam. He won the 1943 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering its key role in the coagulation of blood.[2] Since that time, Vitamin K's role in other physiologic functions has become known. One of the most important is its role in controlling where calcium goes in the body.
Humans need around 1 microgram of vitamin K for each kilogram of body fat that they have. For example, someone that weighs 100 kilograms would need 100 micrograms per day, or 75 kilograms needing 75 micrograms.[3] Sometimes a microgram is written as μg (μ being a Greek letter which usually means micro). Humans can store vitamin K (in the liver) to use later if there is too much of it. Because of this, vitamin K does not usually have to be eaten every day.[3]
Without Vitamin K, there would be a loss of blood when a person bleeds, which can lead to unconsciousness or even death.[4] People usually get enough vitamin K from their diet.[3] Vitamin K can be found in green vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, broccoli or cabbage.[4][3] Dietary vitamin K can also be found in vegetable oils and fortified cereals.[3] Babies are born without vitamin K2 in their gut and are inoculated (like a vaccine) with it at birth a lot of the time.
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ "MeSH Browser". meshb.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ↑ "Henrik Dam - Biography". nobelprize.org. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Vitamins and minerals - Vitamin K". nhs.uk. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- 1 2 Anderson J, Young L. "Fat-Soluble Vitamins". Colorado State University, Cooperative Extension. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
