Vitamin K Flashcards
What is vitamin K also called?
Naphthoquinones
How many forms of vitamin K are there?
Three
Name the three types of vitamin K
Phylloquinone K1
Menaquinone K2
Menadione K3
How is phylloquinone K1 made?
It is made by plants
How is menaquinone K2 made?
It is made by intestinal bacteria
How is menadione K3 made?
It is synthesised
List the properties of vitamin K
6
Fat soluble
Insoluble in water
Destroyed by oxygen
Heat stable
Stable in acid
Destroyed by light
List the sources of vitamin K
5
Leafy green vegetables e.g. spinach and cabbage
Cereals
Offal
Oily fish
Fish liver oils
List another source of vitamin K other than food sources
It is synthesised by bacteria in the small intestine
List the functions of vitamin K
5
Regulates the level of calcium in bones
Aids the clotting of blood
Prevents bone diseases
Helps reduce cardio vascular diseases
Prevents varicose veins
Vitamin K aids the clotting of blood, describe this function
Aids the clotting of blood by synthesising prothrombin which is a chemical needed in blood for it to clot
List the effects of a deficiency of vitamin K
Slow blood clotting
Increased risk of bone fractures and bone diseases
A lack of vitamin K results in slow blood clotting, describe this deficiency
(2)
A lack of vitamin K results in slow blood clotting of ruptured blood vessels leading to haemorrhaging
This is common among new-born babies as their diet lacks vitamin K and their intestines may not have begun to produce it
Why is haemorrhaging common in new-born babies?
As their diet lacks vitamin K and their intestines may not be producing it yet
