Vitamin K Q&a
Vitamin K two major functions - (correct answer)1) Blood coagulation
2) Bone Metabolism
-Vitamin K is required for the process that adds calcium to some proteins (post
translational process)
-Also effect gene expression of some proteins and cells involved in bone metabolism
(vitamin K works through nuclear receptors)
Discovery of Vitamin K - (correct answer)1930: Henry Dom was attempting to prove
dietary cholesterol was essential
-Feeding chickens low fat/low chol. diet = chickens started dying from internal bleeding
-Added cholesterol back: no effect
-Diet was lacking another factor: added back a lipid extract from green plants --->
isolated vitamin K 10 years later
1941: Him and another researcher won nobel prize
-Latest research: important for bone metabolism
**A lot of people take different supplements but one of the nutrients still lacking =
vitamin K (most people don't consume adequate amounts --> compromises
effectiveness of calcium)
Forms of Vitamin K - (correct answer)All three have vitamin K activity; all have ring
structures with Oxygen that can bind H and release H
1) Phylloquinone: Vitamin K1
-found in plants,
-Most common form in our diet
, -3 repeating subunits
2) Menaquinone 7: Vitamin K2
(6 repeating subunits plus one that's always there)
-Produced by bacteria
-repeating subunits (can vary between 6 and 10 repeating units)
-Can get vitamin K from bacteria produced in our gut --> making menaquinone --> blood
--> tissues and used as vitamin K = helps us maintain a minimal vitamin K status
3) Menadione: Vitamin K3
-synthetic form
-Used to be used in supplements, injections post birth for infants
-->moved away from that because too much can be toxic
-Absorbed differently (not as hydrophobic so it's absorbed better but can cause liver
complications)
**If ingested: must be modified in the liver with the addition of the carbon containing tail
= now has vitamin K activity
Sources of Vitamin K - (correct answer)-All 3 forms represent sources of vitamin K for
the body
-Phylloquinone= provides most dietary vitamin K
-Only a few foods contain menaquinones
-Bacteria in lower intestine: provide a source of vitamin K but minimal
-Average consumed: 70-80 ug phylloquinone per day
--->high amounts of phyllo. = no toxic effect
-Food sourced: leafy green vegetables, some oils and margarine (canola, soybean,
olive oil)
Vitamin K two major functions - (correct answer)1) Blood coagulation
2) Bone Metabolism
-Vitamin K is required for the process that adds calcium to some proteins (post
translational process)
-Also effect gene expression of some proteins and cells involved in bone metabolism
(vitamin K works through nuclear receptors)
Discovery of Vitamin K - (correct answer)1930: Henry Dom was attempting to prove
dietary cholesterol was essential
-Feeding chickens low fat/low chol. diet = chickens started dying from internal bleeding
-Added cholesterol back: no effect
-Diet was lacking another factor: added back a lipid extract from green plants --->
isolated vitamin K 10 years later
1941: Him and another researcher won nobel prize
-Latest research: important for bone metabolism
**A lot of people take different supplements but one of the nutrients still lacking =
vitamin K (most people don't consume adequate amounts --> compromises
effectiveness of calcium)
Forms of Vitamin K - (correct answer)All three have vitamin K activity; all have ring
structures with Oxygen that can bind H and release H
1) Phylloquinone: Vitamin K1
-found in plants,
-Most common form in our diet
, -3 repeating subunits
2) Menaquinone 7: Vitamin K2
(6 repeating subunits plus one that's always there)
-Produced by bacteria
-repeating subunits (can vary between 6 and 10 repeating units)
-Can get vitamin K from bacteria produced in our gut --> making menaquinone --> blood
--> tissues and used as vitamin K = helps us maintain a minimal vitamin K status
3) Menadione: Vitamin K3
-synthetic form
-Used to be used in supplements, injections post birth for infants
-->moved away from that because too much can be toxic
-Absorbed differently (not as hydrophobic so it's absorbed better but can cause liver
complications)
**If ingested: must be modified in the liver with the addition of the carbon containing tail
= now has vitamin K activity
Sources of Vitamin K - (correct answer)-All 3 forms represent sources of vitamin K for
the body
-Phylloquinone= provides most dietary vitamin K
-Only a few foods contain menaquinones
-Bacteria in lower intestine: provide a source of vitamin K but minimal
-Average consumed: 70-80 ug phylloquinone per day
--->high amounts of phyllo. = no toxic effect
-Food sourced: leafy green vegetables, some oils and margarine (canola, soybean,
olive oil)
