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Vitamin K
is
necessary for the formation of prothrombin, needed for blood coagulation, and it helps
increase strength of capillaries. Signs of deficiency include lack of
prothrombin,
with an increase in the tendency to hemorrhage and a tendency to bleed and bruise easily.
The natural forms of vitamin K are K-1 and K-2.
K-1 occurs in green plants, and K-2 is derived from petrified fish meal. There is no
known toxicity for humans for either of these, whereas the synthetic K-3, menadione, has
been found to have possible toxicity in excessive doses.
Recommended amounts are infants: 12-20 mcg; children: 15-100 mcg;
adults: 300-500 mcg.
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