Vitamin K is recognized as the anti haemorrhagic factor owing to its vital role in blood clotting mechanism.

Functions.

Synthesis of blood clotting proteins. Vitamin K is essential for the activation of prothrombin. This gets converted to thrombin, which in turn activates fibrinogen to form fibrin.
The process of blood clotting occurs as follows: Injured tissue releases thromboplastin, which catalyses prothrombin formation. Vitamin K catalyses, conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. This in turn causes conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin which forms the clot.

Sources

Dark green leafy vegetables are good sources of vitamin K.Fruits, tubers, seeds, dairy and meat products containVitamin K.

 

 

 

Requirements :
The ICMR committee considered that no recommendation is needed for this Vitamin, as the synthesis of Vitamin K occurs in the lower intestine by the colonic bacteriaand present widely in foods.
Effects of Deficiency:
Primary deficiency arises in infants resulting in delayed blood clotting and hemorrhage. This is because the new born babies have a sterile intestinal tract thus lack in the colonic
bacterial colonies which produces Vitamin K.Vitamin K deficiency does not occur in adults.