vitamin k bagi kesehatan tubuh

FUNGSI VITAMIN K

Vitamin K adalah vitamin yang larut dalam lemak. vitamin K diperlukan oleh tubuh dalam proses pembekuan darah secara normal. Vitamin K dibutuhkan oleh tubuh dalam jumlah yang sedikit dan biasanya sudah dapat terpenuhi dalam makanan yang kita makan sehingga tidak membutuhkan suplemen vitamin K.

Manfaat vitamin K
Vitamin K sangat berperan dalam proses pembekuan darah dan juga berperan penting dalam proses pembentukan tulang bersama kalsium dan vitamin D. Kekurangan vitamin
K dapat menyebabkan gangguan pembekuan darah sehingga menyebabkan perdarahan yang sulit membeku. Bayi yang baru lahir sangat mudah mengalami perdarahan karena sistem pencernaan bayi yang baru lahir masih steril dan tidak mengandung bakteri yang dapat mensintesis vitamin K sementara air susu ibu mengandung hanya sejumlah kecil vitamin K. Untuk itu bayi diberi sejumlah vitamin K saat lahir untuk mencegah kekurangan vitamin K.

Sumber makanan vitamin KVitamin K ditemukan dalam berbagai makanan termasuk sayur-sayuran berdaun hijau, daging, dan produk susu. Vitamin K juga dapat berasal dari bakteri di usus yang mensintesis vitamin K yang kemudian diserap dan disimpan dalam hati.

Gejala dan tanda kekurangan vitamin KKekurangan vitamin K jarang terjadi tetapi jika terjadi kekurangan vitamin K maka dapat menyebabkan masalah dengan pendarahan dan pembekuan darah. Dokter mungkin akan meresepkan vitamin K jika hal ini terjadi. Vitamin K juga sering diberikan secara rutin kepada bayi yang baru lahir untuk mencegah masalah pendarahan.

Gejala keracunan vitamin K
Keracunan vitamin K sangat terjadi kecuali bagi mereka yang konsumsi suplemen vitamin K berlebih. Gejala keracunan vitamin K dapat berupa hemolisis sel darah merah, penyakit kuning dan kerusakan otak.

Vitamins and Supplements Lifestyle Guide

Vitamin K

Vitamin K plays a key role in helping the blood clot, preventing excessive bleeding. Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin K is not typically used as a dietary supplement.

Vitamin K is actually a group of compounds. The most important of these compounds appears to be vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is obtained from leafy greens and some other vegetables. Vitamin K2 is a group of compounds largely obtained from meats, cheeses, and eggs, and synthesized by bacteria.

Vitamin K1 is the main form of vitamin K supplement available in the U.S.

Recently, some people have looked to vitamin K2 to treat osteoporosis and steroid-induced bone loss, but the research is conflicting. At this point there is not enough data to recommend using vitamin K2 for osteoporosis.

Why do people take vitamin K?

Low levels of vitamin K can raise the risk of uncontrolled bleeding. While vitamin K deficiencies are rare in adults, they are very common in newborn infants. A single injection of vitamin K for newborns is standard. Vitamin K is also used to counteract an overdose of the blood thinner Coumadin.

While vitamin K deficiencies are uncommon, you may be at higher risk if you:

• Have a disease that affects absorption in the digestive tract, such as Crohn's disease or active celiac disease
• Take drugs that interfere with vitamin K absorption
• Are severely malnourished
• Drink alcohol heavily

In these cases, a health care provider might suggest vitamin K supplements.

Uses of vitamin K for cancer, for the symptoms of morning sickness, for the removal of spider veins, and for other conditions are unproven.

How much vitamin K should you take?

The recommended adequate intake of vitamin K you take in, both from food and other sources is below. Most people get enough vitamin K from their diets.

Group	Adequate Intake
Children 0-6 months	2 micrograms/day
Children 7-12 months	2.5 micrograms/day
Children 1-3	30 micrograms/day
Children 4-8	55 micrograms/day
Children 9-13	60 micrograms/day
Girls 14-18	75 micrograms/day
Women 19 and up	90 micrograms/day
Women, pregnant or breastfeeding  (19-50) Women, pregnant or breastfeeding  (less than 19)	90 micrograms/day 75 micrograms/day
Boys 14-18	75 micrograms/day
Men 19 and up	120 micrograms/day

There have been no adverse effects of vitamin K seen with the levels found in food or supplements. However, this does not rule out danger with high dose. Researchers have not set a maximum safe dose.

Can you get vitamin K naturally from foods?

Good natural food sources of vitamin K include:

• Vegetables like spinach, asparagus, and broccoli
• Beans and soybeans
• Eggs
• Strawberries
• Meat

What are the risks of taking vitamin K?

• Side effects of oral vitamin K at recommended doses are rare.
• Interactions. Many drugs can interfere with the effects of vitamin K. They include antacids, blood thinners, antibiotics, aspirin, and drugs for cancer, seizures, high cholesterol, and other conditions.
• Risks. You should not use vitamin K supplements unless your health care provider tells you to. People using Coumadin for heart problems, clotting disorders, or other conditions may need to watch their diets closely to control the amount of vitamin K they take in. They should not use vitamin K supplements unless advised to do so by their health care provider.