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Vitamin K

Uses

Vitamin K is needed for proper bone formation and blood clotting. In both cases, vitamin K does this by helping the body transport calcium. Vitamin K is used by doctors when treating an overdose of the drug warfarin. Also, doctors prescribe vitamin K to prevent excessive bleeding in people taking warfarin but requiring surgery.

There is promising preliminary evidence that vitamin K2 (not vitamin K1), may improve a group of blood disorders known as myelodysplastic syndromes,1 which carry a significantly increased risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia.

What Are Star Ratings?

This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for Why
2 Stars
Anorexia
Take under medical supervision: 45 mg daily
In people with anorexia, supplementing with vitamin K2 may help prevent osteoporosis.

In a preliminary study of women with anorexia nervosa, those who supplemented with 45 mg of per day for approximately one year experienced significantly less bone loss, compared with women who did not take the supplement. This study suggests that supplementing with vitamin K2 may help prevent osteoporosis, which is a common complication of anorexia nervosa. The amount of vitamin K2 used in this study was much larger than the amount of vitamin K found in food and most supplements. Moreover, vitamin K2 is not yet generally available as a supplement, although it can be obtained through some nutritionally oriented doctors. Individuals interested in using this treatment should be monitored by a doctor.

2 Stars
Atherosclerosis (Vitamin K1, for coronary calcification )
500 mcg per day of vitamin K1
In a double-blind trial, supplementing with vitamin K1 for three years appeared to slow the rate of progression of coronary artery calcification in seniors.
In a double-blind trial, supplementing with vitamin K1 for three years appeared to slow the rate of progression of coronary artery calcification in elderly people who had preexisting coronary artery calcification. Participants in that study were randomly assigned to receive a multivitamin that contained 500 mcg per day of vitamin K1 or the same multivitamin without vitamin K1.
2 Stars
Celiac Disease
Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner
The malabsorption that occurs in celiac disease can lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies. Supplementing with vitamin K may correct a deficiency.

The malabsorption that occurs in celiac disease can lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies. The most common nutritional problems in people with celiac disease include deficiencies of essential fatty acids, iron, vitamin D, , calcium, magnesium, and folic acid.Zinc malabsorption also occurs frequently in celiac disease and may result in zinc deficiency, even in people who are otherwise in remission. People with newly diagnosed celiac disease should be assessed for nutritional deficiencies by a doctor. Celiac patients who have not yet completely recovered should supplement with a high-potency multivitamin-mineral. Some patients may require even higher amounts of some of these vitamins and minerals—an issue that should be discussed with their healthcare practitioner. Evidence of a nutrient deficiency in a celiac patient is a clear indication for supplementation with that nutrient.

After commencement of a gluten-free diet, overall nutritional status gradually improves. However, deficiencies of some nutrients may persist, even in people who are strictly avoiding gluten. For example, magnesium deficiency was found in 8 of 23 adults with celiac disease who had been following a gluten-free diet and were symptom-free. When these adults were supplemented with magnesium for two years, their bone mineral density increased significantly.

2 Stars
Crohn’s Disease
80 to 1,000 mcg daily
Taking vitamin K can counteract the deficiency and resulting bone loss that can occur in people with Crohn’s disease.

In people with Crohn's disease, deficiency can result from malabsorption due to intestinal inflammation or bowel surgery, from chronic diarrhea, or from dietary changes necessitated by food intolerance. In addition, Crohn's disease is often treated with antibiotics that have the potential to kill beneficial vitamin K–producing bacteria in the intestines. Vitamin K levels were significantly lower in a group of people with Crohn's disease than in healthy people. Moreover, the rate of bone loss in the Crohn's disease patients increased with increasing degrees of vitamin K deficiency. When combined with earlier evidence that vitamin K is required to maintain healthy bones, this study suggests that vitamin K deficiency is a contributing factor to the accelerated bone loss that often occurs in people with Crohn's disease.

2 Stars
Cystic Fibrosis
5 mg every three days
The fat malabsorption associated with cystic fibrosis often leads to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin K. Supplementation can help counteract the deficiency.

The fat malabsorption associated with CF often leads to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins. Oral supplementation of these nutrients is considered crucial to maintaining good nutritional status. Current recommendations for supplementation are as follows: vitamin A, 5,000 to 10,000 IU/day; vitamin D, 1,000 to 2,000 IU/day; vitamin E, 100 to 300 IU/day; and , 5 mg every three days. Of the water-soluble vitamins, only vitamin B12 is poorly absorbed in cystic fibrosis, and taking pancreatic enzymes helps prevent B12 deficiencies.

2 Stars
Osteoporosis
Amount varies depending on the type of vitamin K being used; consult a healthcare practitioner.
Vitamin K is needed for bone formation, and supplementing with it may be a way to maintain bone mass.

is needed for bone formation. People with osteoporosis have been reported to have low blood levels and low dietary intake of vitamin K. One study found that postmenopausal (though not premenopausal) women may reduce urinary loss of calcium by taking 1 mg of vitamin K1 per day. People with osteoporosis given large amounts of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinine-4 (45 mg per day) have shown an increase in bone density after six months and decreased bone loss after one or two years. Supplementation with vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7 (180-375 mcg per day) has been reported to improve bone quality and to slow both bone loss and the loss of vertebral height in postmenopausal women.

1 Star
Morning Sickness
Refer to label instructions
Vitamin K and vitamin C, taken together, may provide relief of morning sickness symptoms for some women.

and vitamin C, taken together, may provide relief of symptoms for some women. In one study, 91% of women who took 5 mg of vitamin K and 25 mg of vitamin C per day reported the complete disappearance of morning sickness within three days. Menadione was removed from the market a number of years ago because of concerns about potential toxicity. Although some doctors still use a combination of vitamin K1 (the most prevalent form of vitamin K in food) and vitamin C for morning sickness, no studies on this treatment have been done.

1 Star
Phenylketonuria
Refer to label instructions
People with PKU may be deficient in vitamin K, due to the restricted PKU diet. Supplementing with vitamin K may correct a deficiency.

People with PKU may be deficient in several nutrients, due to the restricted diet which is low in protein and animal fat. Deficiencies of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs),selenium,vitamin B12, and may develop on this diet.

Because the PKU diet is low in animal products, fat intake is also significantly reduced. The results of a preliminary study of children with PKU suggested that the low-fat PKU diet intake may impair the absorption of , a fat-soluble vitamin, from the diet, possibly resulting in a vitamin K deficiency. In that study, children with PKU on a strict diet had low levels of certain vitamin K-dependent proteins needed for normal blood clotting.

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