The term vitamin K refers to a group of substances (Vitamin K1, K2 and K3 that exhibit hemostatic activity. It is believed that many of vitamin K's effects come from its ability to increase the body's ability to transport calcium.

Vitamin K1: produced in plants and is scientifically known as phytonadione, phylloquinone and phytomenadione.
Vitamin K2: produced in animals and is scientifically known as menaquinone.
Vitamin K3: synthetically produced, water-soluble and is scientifically known as menadione.

Plays an essential role in:

• Blood Clotting
• Osteocalcin Activation
  
  

Vitamin K deficiency

vitamin K deficiency can occur under certain conditions. These include poor diet, malabsorption syndromes (cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Whipple's disease, celiac sprue, short bowel syndrome), and liver disease. Signs of vitamin K deficiency include bruising, epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding, menorrhagia, and hematuria. Severe cases of vitamin K deficiency can lead to osteoporosis

Vitamin K supplementation may be beneficial for the following conditions:

§         Vitamin K deficiency

§         Hemorrhagic disease in newborns

§         Malabsorption syndromes

§         Protection against osteoporosis

Click here for Vitamin K RDA  table