Vitamin K
From ChildWiki.com
Vitamin K is part of the B vitamins complex and it is called the anti-hemorrhagic vitamin. Vitamin K has an essential role in fast blood coagulation, being indicated when trying to stop hemorrhages of any kind, in various hepatic disorders, including infant jaundice, in reducing the menstrual slow and after treatments with antibiotics.
The lack of vitamin K can cause hemorrhage at mucus levels and brain levels, especially after long periods in which antibiotics were used. This vitamin can be also furnished to the body by internal synthesis in the intestinal flora. The amount is about 50% of the daily dosage needed. Because antibiotics destroy the intestinal flora, it is recommended that the child is administrated yogurt, milk or digestive enzymes. In newborns, the body does not produce enough vitamin K, which explains the different hemorrhages that appear in this period, as well as the need of a vitamin K supplement in case the baby is not breastfeeding.
Vitamin K is soluble in fats, it is very sensitive to light, it resists heat and it is sensitive to antioxidants. It is also easily destroyed by freezing aliments before consuming.
Vitamin K1 can be found the following vegetables: potatoes, cauliflower, berries, green peas, carrots, oak, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, soy oil, cabbage.
Vitamin K2 can be found in the following animal origin aliments: veal and pork, spline, fish fats, milk and dairy products, yogurt, egg white and pork liver.
