Vitamin K Supplement For Fat absorption
Vitamins play a vital role to perform important functions of the body and enhance growth. There are all the vitamins there to play the role that they have been assigned. Vitamin K is also an important vitamin and has a vital role to play.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the blood to clot. We will get a sufficient amount of vitamin K1, which can be found in plants if we eat a balanced diet. Our bodies also make a small amount of vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is the main source of vitamin K. It is found in green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, broccoli, peas, beans, cereal and dairy products. Thus, if you ingest good amount of these vegetables then you are going to get good amount of vitamin K.
Deficiencies of vitamin K could cause heavy bleeding and even hemorrhage. Newborns are given a shot of a vitamin K supplement right after they are born. Only one shot is given and is used to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
We have not heard more about vitamin K deficiency. Although a vitamin K deficiency can be very dangerous, it is also quite rare. However, if vitamin K levels drop a certain amount, bleeding or hemorrhaging could occur. That doesn’t mean we should run out and get a vitamin K supplement because we have the opportunity to get all the vitamin K we need by eating a healthy diet.
Antibiotics may have an affect on the vitamin K2 that is produced by bacteria in our bodies. Since our major source of vitamin K is through dietary means, the vitamin K2 we might lose by taking certain antibiotics, aspirin or other medication would not produce a deficiency as long as we were getting the proper amount of vitamin K1, the kind we get from our food. As just one cup of spinach provides more than the RDA of vitamin K, there is no reason we should have a deficiency and need a vitamin K supplement.
Thus you must concentrate more on what you eat. If you eat right then definitely you are going to get good nutrition and thus you will not fall for vitamin deficiency.
There are certain medical conditions which would make it difficult for some people to consume the proper amount of vitamin K. As it is a fat soluble vitamin, if one has trouble absorbing fat in the diet, they may not be able to get enough vitamin K. In this instance, they would need a vitamin K supplement. This will be helpful for fat absorption and thus getting vitamin K.
For those who do not have a condition that warrants a vitamin K supplement, they should rely on dietary intake of vitamin K only as levels above the RDA could build up in the body, as fat-soluble vitamins do. In other words, for people who truly need the vitamin K supplement, it has its purpose but it should not be taken in its synthetic version unless the need is present otherwise it will be harmful.
As far as vitamin K1, the kind found in food, our bodies could stand 500 times the RDA so we are not going to ingest too much vitamin K1. As usual, all things point to the balanced diet once again for healthy levels of the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need.
The most important thing is that you must not take vitamin K supplement or for that matter any vitamin supplement with out consulting your doctor. You must know that it is harmful and needs care.
Summary: Vitamin K supplement will be useful for those who are not able to get proper amounts from diet. People who have problems in absorbing fat may also take this dietary supplement. But it must be taken after consulting your doctor and also excess may be harmful.