Vitamin K Deficiency
Daily Recommended Allowance of Vitamin K
The amount of Vitamin K a person needs is based on their different age, gender, and other life conditions. The basic recommendations for the daily recommended allowance are based on what would be a healthy diet for 95-97% of the population.
The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of medicine recommends the following dietary intake for Vitamin K: Infants 0 - 6 months of age – 2.0 mcg per day, infants 7 – 12 months of age – 2.5 mcg per day, children 1 – 3 years of age – 30 mcg per day, children 4 – 8 years of age – 55 mcg per day, children 9 – 13 years of age – 60 mcg per day, adolescents males and females 14-18 years of age – 75 mcg per day, and Adult males and females 19 years of age and older – 90 mcg per day.
Toxicity of Vitamin K
There have been no been no Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) established for Vitamin K, because as of now there have been no signs that taking too much Vitamin K will cause negative side effects. This is mainly due to the fact that Vitamin K2 is produced inside of the body through the use of bacteria. The body therefore regulates the amounts it produces in the body, and makes it very difficult for a healthy person to have too much.
There are other problems which can occur by having Vitamin K in a person’s system. Yet, these normally are associated with an allergic reaction to Vitamin K or the fact that Vitamin K can counteract the ability of some drugs to function. Some blood thinning medication will not work if a person is consuming too much Vitamin K in their diet. Most blood thinning medication actually works by controlling the amount of Vitamin K which the body uses to regulate the coagulation of the blood.
Older Adults Need to Monitor Their Vitamin K
There have been studies linking a connection between bone health and Vitamin K. Vitamin K has received recognition for its role in increasing the mass of bones, in some studies. The supplemental form of Vitamin K promotes osteotrophic processes and slows osteoclastic processes via calcium bonding. Japan has a form of Vitamin K, which has been approved by their government agencies as a treatment for osteoporosis. There a still studies underway trying to find out more about the relationship between bone health and Vitamin K, and there isn’t any long term data available which tells what effects prolonged us of Vitamin K supplementation will have; however, there are studies linking Vitamin K to better bone health.
Broken hips are one of the injuries which have a high level of mortality rate among older adults. The reason is a broken hip means a loss of mobility, and a lack of exercise. This means many older adults with broken hips are at a higher risk of contracting other deadly diseases and disorders. Protecting one’s self from a broken hip is a great way to prolong one’s life. In studies Vitamin K has proven to help strength and prevent hip fractures.
Leafy green lettuce is very high in Vitamin K. In a study comparing women who ate lettuce once or more a day versus women who ate lettuce one or fewer times a week—researchers found that women consuming more lettuce, and thus more Vitamin K, showed a much lower risk of hip fractures when compared to the women eating less lettuce and less Vitamin K. Even if a person’s has high levels of Vitamin D, a vitamin also linked to bone health, a deficiency of Vitamin K can still lead to an increased risk of hip fractures.
Newborns at a High Risk of Vitamin K Deficiency
Newborn baby’s blood clotting factor is 30 to 60 percent lower than an average person. This is most likely due to the fact that newborn’s reduced synthesis of precursor proteins and sterility of their guts. The amount of Vitamin K which is in human breast milk is much lower in comparison to the amount of Vitamin K a baby would get from formula.
It was determined by the Committee of Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics that a recommended dosage of 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg of Vitamin K be given to all newborns shortly after birth. The reason for the injection of Vitamin K is due to the Vitamin K Deficiency among newborns.
There was controversy regarding the supplementation of newborns with Vitamin K, and there were groups claiming that Vitamin K supplementation of newborns was linked to an increased amount of child cancer. Yet, these claims were proven to be wrong, and to be spread by organizations which are against the immunization of children (fearing that immunization shots actually cause more damage to children than benefits). As of today there has been no data which supports the theory that Vitamin K supplementation of newborns cause any form of childhood cancer.
How to get Enough Vitamin K
It is always recommended that a person gets their vitamins and minerals their bodies require from proper diet. A low fat diet which is rich in fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains will provide a person with the vitamins and minerals which will keep their bodies healthy. Yet, many people simply don’t have the time to invest in eating a full diet. This can often lead to vitamin deficiencies or subclinical vitamin deficiencies.
There are groups of people who really need to focus on the amounts of vitamins they have in their daily diet. These groups of people include, in regards to Vitamin K, infants, women who are pregnant or nursing, and the elderly. All of these groups can benefit from the supplementation of Vitamin K—either for their own personal health or the health of their child.
It is also recommended that women who just have a baby be proactive about regaining their pre-baby bodies, and it is also recommended that older Americas take a more active role in controlling their body for a longer healthier life. A good way to control a person’s weight and fat burning muscle to a person’s body is by taking a meal replacement supplement. A meal replacement supplement will lower a person’s caloric intake, provide vitamins and minerals a person needs to function (especially Vitamin K),, and also give a person a boast of Whey protein.
Whey protein is the building block of muscle and will help a person to gain more muscle mass. This will help a person to lose weight, and strengthen a person’s core muscle group which will help them to have a stronger bone structure. This means less back problems and hip injuries—both problems which older adults must deal with every day.
Adding enough Vitamin K to a person’s diet can be essential to helping a person have a healthier life. It is important to know what kind of medications a person is taking before thinking about supplementing a diet with any amount of Vitamin K. Discuss your health options with a personal trainer or your health professional before starting any supplementation regimen.
