| Benefits: Helps the blood to clot. Promotes normal growth and development.
Good food sources: Cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, kale, green tea, cheddar and camembert cheese, Brussels sprouts.
Cautions: Consult your doctor if you have: liver disease, cystic fibrosis, intestinal problems, upcoming surgery.
Substance interactions: These medications decrease vitamin's effect: antibiotics, cholestyramine, colestipol, coumarin, mineral oil, quinidine, salicylates, sucralfate, sulfa drugs. Decreases anti-coagulant effect. Vitamin K with primaquine increases potential for toxic side effects.
Signs of toxicity: Large doses may impair liver function. May cause brain damage in infants.
* Best absorbed if taken with a fatty food (salad dressing on
spinach, for example). Most people have adequate amounts of vitamin
K (the body can produce it) and do not have to supplement. The
exception being those who have cystic fibrosis.
* Antibiotics may destroy the normal, beneficial bacteria in the
intestinal tract - the same bacteria which produces vitamin K.
Anyone taking antibiotics may want to increase intake of leafy
vegetables.
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