scholarly journals Vitamin K a nutraceutical with impact in health

Author(s):  
Dina Simes ◽  
Carla Viegas ◽  
Nuna Araújo ◽  
Catarina Marreiros

Abstract Vitamin K has been recognized as a key factor for the synthesis of blood clotting factors in the liver, and is currently known to be involved in a wide range of biological processes and is associated with many pathological conditions.The most well-known function of vitamin K is as a cofactor for the γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) enzyme responsible for the post-translational modification of vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) through the conversion of specific glutamic acid (Glu) into calcium binding γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues. Vitamin K deficiency has been linked to several pathological conditions such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), osteoarthritis (OA) , rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis, cancer, dementia, certain skin pathologies, functional decline, and disability.  A new concept on the involvement of vitamin K in inflammation is growing. In fact, novel roles have been disclosed for vitamin K independent of its activity as a cofactor for GGCX, such as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, promoter of cognition, inhibition of tumor progression, and transcriptional regulator of osteoblastic genes. A growing number of studies has raised an increasing interest on the use of vitamin K as a health promoting supplement.  Aging societies represent a major economic challenge for health care systems, and diet supplements promoting healthy aging and improving the prognosis of age-related diseases, are required to be implemented in clinical practice.This work thoroughly reviews available data regarding differences between vitamin K1 and K2, contextualized with clinical aspects of vitamin K deficiency, including their sources, functions, target activity, and involvement in age-related diseases. Processes for the chemical and biological production of vitamin K1 and K2 will be briefly addressed. Additionally, novel sources with potential biotechnological application, and new formulations to improve vitamin K absorption and bioavailability are presented.

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (04) ◽  
pp. 383-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
R von Kries ◽  
M J Shearer ◽  
J Widdershoven ◽  
K Motohara ◽  
G Umbach ◽  
...  

SummaryAssessments of the vitamin K status in newborns and their mothers by means of des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin (PIVKA II) measurement have given equivocal results. Part of the variability could be attributed to differences in sensitivity (i.e. the ability to detect small concentrations) and validity (i.e. ability to detect vitamin K deficiency) of the methods applied. None of these methods have yet been validated with respect to plasma vitamin K1. In 22 healthy mother/infant pairs PIVKA II was determined using three different assays including ratio Xa/ecarin (Xa/ec), crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), and an ELISA with a monoclonal antibody (MAB). The results were compared with conventional clotting tests and plasma vitamin K1. The following results were obtained:Cord blood: Clotting tests within age-related normal ranges; PIVKA II detection rates: 0/22 (Xa/ec), 1/22 (CIE), 4/22 (MAB); plasma vitamin K1: undetectable in 20/22.Mothers: Clotting tests all within normal range; PIVKA II detection rates: 1/22 (Xa/ec), 0/22 (CIE), 5/22 (MAB); plasma vitamin K1 (pg/ml) for all mothers (median; range): 186; 55–833; for PIVKA II positive mothers: 213; 59–699.PIVKA II detectability in newborns and mothers was not correlated. The results show an increase in sensitivity for PIVKA II detection in the order of MAB ≫CIE >Xa/ec. Due to the very low plasma vitamin K1 at birth, no correlation was possible between cord PIVKA II detectability and plasma vitamin K1. However, in mothers at term PIVKA II MAB appears to be unrelated to the vitamin K status.


1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (01) ◽  
pp. 039-043 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Mandelbrot ◽  
M Guillaumont ◽  
M Leclercq ◽  
J J Lefrère ◽  
D Gozin ◽  
...  

SummaryVitamin K status was evaluated using coagulation studies and/ or vitamin IQ assays in a total of 53 normal fetuses and 47 neonates. Second trimester fetal blood samples were obtained for prenatal diagnosis under ultrasound guidance. Endogenous vitamin K1 concentrations (determined by high performance liquid chromatography) were substantially lower than maternal levels. The mean maternal-fetal gradient was 14-fold at mid trimester and 18-fold at birth. Despite low vitamin K levels, descarboxy prothrombin, detected by a staphylocoagulase assay, was elevated in only a single fetus and a single neonate.After maternal oral supplementation with vitamin K1, cord vitamin K1 levels were boosted 30-fold at mid trimester and 60 fold at term, demonstrating placental transfer. However, these levels were substantially lower than corresponding supplemented maternal levels. Despite elevated vitamin K1 concentrations, supplemented fetuses and neonates showed no increase in total or coagulant prothrombin activity. These results suggest that the low prothrombin levels found during intrauterine life are not due to vitamin K deficiency.


1968 ◽  
Vol 20 (01/02) ◽  
pp. 078-087 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C Hemker ◽  
A. D Muller

SummaryPIVKA, the circulating anticoagulant protein found in vitamin K deficiency can, on kinetical grounds, be recognized as an analogue of factor X. The existence of analogues of other vitamin K-dependent clotting factors cannot be ruled out, but need not be assumed to explain the experimental results.


1993 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. M. Cornelissen ◽  
L. A. A. Kollée ◽  
T. G. P. J. van Lith ◽  
K. Motohara ◽  
L. A. H. Monnens

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 495-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-ni Mi ◽  
Na-na Ping ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Xue Xiao ◽  
Yan-bing Zhu ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2513
Author(s):  
Signe Wikstrøm ◽  
Katrine Aagaard Lentz ◽  
Ditte Hansen ◽  
Lars Melholt Rasmussen ◽  
Jette Jakobsen ◽  
...  

Background: A low vitamin K status is common in patients on haemodialysis, and this is considered one of the reasons for the accelerated atherosclerosis in these patients. The vitamin is essential in activation of the protein Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), and the inactive form, dp-ucMGP, is used to measure vitamin K status. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible underlying causes of low vitamin K status, which could potentially be low intake, washout during dialysis or inhibited absorption capacity. Moreover, the aim was to investigate whether the biomarker dp-ucMGP is affected in these patients. Method: Vitamin K intake was assessed by a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and absorption capacity by means of D-xylose testing. dp-ucMGP was measured in plasma before and after dialysis, and phylloquinine (vitamin K1) and dp-ucMGP were measured in the dialysate. Changes in dp-ucMGP were measured after 14 days of protein supplementation. Results: All patients had plasma dp-ucMGP above 750 pmol/L, and a low intake of vitamin K. The absorption capacity was normal. The difference in dp-ucMGP before and after dialysis was −1022 pmol/L (p < 0.001). Vitamin K1 was not present in the dialysate but dp-ucMGP was at a high concentration. The change in dp-ucMGP before and after protein supplementation was −165 pmol/L (p = 0.06). Conclusion: All patients had vitamin K deficiency. The reason for the low vitamin K status is not due to removal of vitamin K during dialysis or decreased absorption but is plausibly due to a low intake of vitamin K in food. dp-ucMGP is washed out during dialysis, but not affected by protein intake to a clinically relevant degree.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 857-861
Author(s):  
Ordean L. Torstenson ◽  
G. Bennett Humphrey ◽  
J. Roger Edson ◽  
Warren J. Warwick

Three patients are discussed who presented with hemorrhagic diatheses who were subsequently diagnosed as having cystic fibrosis. Their prolonged prothrombin times and low levels of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors were due to vitamin K deficiency. In two patients we believe that the vitamin K deficiency was principally due to malabsorption caused by cystic fibrosis. In the third patient, malabsorption, diarrhea, antibiotic therapy, and low dietary intake all played a part in the development of vitamin K deficiency. Cystic fibrosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients under 1 year of age presenting with a bleeding tendency.


2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 254-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Martic ◽  
Katarina Pejic ◽  
Dobrila Veljkovic ◽  
Zorica Rakonjac ◽  
Milos Kuzmanovic ◽  
...  

Introduction/Objective. Vitamin K deficiency is common in newborn infants and without prophylaxis there is a risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). The most frequent prophylactic approach is an intramuscular (IM) injection of vitamin K1 immediately after birth. Its efficiency to prevent late VKDB has been recently questioned by several reports. Based on our experience, we discuss the need for additional vitamin K1 supplementation after its IM administration at birth. Methods. We present a retrospective review of 12 infants, 11 with confirmed and one with probable late VKDB despite IM prophylaxis at birth, who were treated in the two largest tertiary care pediatric hospitals in Serbia during the last 15 years. Results. All the patients were exclusively breastfed. In 11 patients, daily weight gain was normal or increased, and one patient had failure to gain weight. Six infants were previously healthy, three infants received antibiotics prior to bleeding, and in two diarrhea and cholestasis, respectively, existed previously. An intracranial bleeding was documented in nine infants, four of whom died. Conclusion. Low content of phytomenadione in human milk could occasionally be attributed to late VKDB despite postnatal IM injection of vitamin K1 in otherwise healthy, exclusively breastfed infants. This might be aggravated by transient disturbance of vitamin K turnover due to antibiotic use, acute diarrhea, or transient cholestasis. We suggest that an additional vitamin K1 supplementation after postnatal IM prophylaxis could be justified in exclusively breastfed infants.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 745-749
Author(s):  
Herbert I. Goldman ◽  
Peter Amadio

Sixty infants, 1 to 18 months of age, with diarrhea, were treated with a skimmed milk diet and succinylfathiazole. Thirty received supplemental vitamin K1 and had oral vitamin K intakes, expressed as K1 activity, of 16.1 to 36.3 µg/kg/day. Hypoprothrombinemia was not observed. Thirty did not receive supplementation and had intakes, similarly expressed, of 9.2 to 29.5 µg/kg/day. A single episode of hypoprothrombinemia was recorded on an intake of 9.8 µg/kg/day. In a group of 15 infants with clinical bleeding episodes due to vitamin K deficiency, the oral vitamin K intakes, expressed as K1 activity, were 0.0 to 8.4 µg/kg/day. These data suggest that, in infants who have diarrhea and/or are receiving antimicrobials, there exists a risk of vitamin K deficiency if the dietary intake contains less than the approximate equivalent of 10 µg/kg/day of vitamin K1 activity.


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