Many Likely Deficient in Vitamin K
July 20th, 2007
In a review study published in the journal Thrombosis and Hemostasis, researchers note that vitamin K deficiency may be much more common than previously thought.
A primary action of vitamin K in the body is to help in a chemical reaction called carboxylation. Potential vitamin K deficiencies can be identified by measuring in the body the level of under-carboxylated compounds, such as osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein (MGP), both of which are involved in the maintenance of bone structure.
The scientists note that there is a substantial amount of incompletely metabolized osteocalcin and MGP in many otherwise apparently healthy individuals, which suggests that the majority of these people may be subclinically deficient in vitamin K.
Results Not Surprising
The findings aren’t too surprising, given that the primary dietary sources of vitamin K are:
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Green, leafy vegetables - spinach, kale, chard, lettuce
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Broccoli
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Parsley
These aren’t foods that most people eat regularly in adequate amounts (e.g., a cup per day). And, the biological half-life of vitamin K is relatively short — a few days. That means if you’re not regularly consuming vitamin K, you may become deficient.
