Where is vitamin k synthesized?

Vitamin K, the essential vitamin for blood clotting and bone health. It’s one of those vitamins that makes you go “Huh?” when someone mentions it. But have you ever wondered where this elusive substance comes from? Let me take you on a journey to unveil its mystery and answer the age-old question: “Where is vitamin k synthesized?”

What is Vitamin K exactly?

Before we find out where it’s synthesized, let’s first get acquainted with what this elusive Vitamin actually is.

  • While multiple types of vitamin k exist (K1, K2, and K3), we will be focusing solely on K1.

  • This fat-soluble, green-colored nutrient occurs naturally in plants such as kale, spinach, collard greens,and broccoli.

  • Fat-soluble meaning it gets dissolved in fats inside our body.

So then where does Vitamin K synthesis occur?

Glad you asked! The short answer would be – not in humans. Yeah, sorry to burst your bubble there pal but if only human beings had the capabilities that bacteria do!

The longer answer would involve traveling down to your gut–more specifically; microland called intestinal bacterial flora residing deep within us.

While vitamins are usually something that people associate with food intake or supplements most don’t know they can also be produced during digestion by bacteria sitting around inside us digestive systems like a bunch of couch potatoes waiting for their big break [^1]

After absorption through eating foods rich in said nutrients primarily they make their merry way via the bloodstream– over here lies another challenge… both Vitamins D[12] and K add two extra hydroxyl functional groups (-OH) onto specific carbon atoms seemingly acting like matchmakers arranging an introduction between them for later down the line onwards bodily activity &[2].

A deep dive into Intestinal Bacterial Flora or Gut flora

You might have heard the phrase “Gut flora” before. Grown up sounding name aside, it’s essentially a bunch of bacteria that exist in your intestines.

But don’t start a war trying to eliminate these microorganisms; turns out they are essential for digestion and absorbing various nutrients such as Vitamin K(1). It depends on these bacteria to convert Vitamin K from the form found in leafy greens (phylloquinone) into one our bodies can use (Menaquinone)[3]. Yes, we rely on them!

Moreover if we want access to this Vitamin earlier than anticipated without having an entire lifestyle change involving adding piles more green veggies. then bypassing gut absorption altogether could be something that occurs via intravenous dose injection –… but hey let’s not get fancy here.. since it seems rather large-dose dependent.[4]

Fun facts about Gut Flora

  • The term “microbiome” is used interchangeably with “gut flora”.
  • Our GI tract houses approximately 100 trillion bacterial cells. Yep, you heard us right–trillion!
  • Babies aren’t born with gut flora–they acquire it after birth when exposed to their environment.

The Case of Neonatal Hemorrhagic Disease

If you’re new parents reading this — read carefully!

In rare cases where neonates’ mothers may take certain medication(s)(coumarins being the prime example here [5]), newborns may experience symptoms linked to supplementation-induced anticoagulation deficiency called ‘neonatal hemorrhagic disease’ oftentimes prompting hospital dialysis machines interventions/stays In situations like these medical professionals will inject vitamin k directly into the baby – Side note: neonates require larger doses because they lack well established and colonized intestinal microbiota compared to adults&rnsbp;[6].

A Recap

Phew! That was a lot of knowledge to take in. And we hope you’re at least a little impressed by what our intestines and gut flora do for us every day.

So where is Vitamin K synthesized? It all lies within the intestinal bacterial flora living inside your digestive system. These guys depend on green leafy vegetables for phylloquinone, which they convert into menaquinone–the form our bodies can use)

Who knew that a single nutrient could tell us so much about another amazing process occurring constantly under our nose?

But now that you know everything there is to know about vitamin k synthesis- it’s time to go out and get yourself some good old fashioned kale salad. Your gut bacteria will thank you later!

References

  1. Don’t Lose Hope! The Role of Bacteria in Vitamin Synthesis | JCJPCB (jcjpcb.com)
    2.” Interaction between Vitamin D and Vitamin K: From Co- Absorption to Cohabitation”. J Bone Metab.
    3.Lecture 14 Bacterial Biosynthesis e Vic Cohen Part 2.pptx (slideshare.net)
    4.KCJ Otto, et al., “Vitamin K deficiency bleeding”, American Family Physician, vol.91,no. 7(2015):441–443 [PubMed]
    5.Venkatesh YP.Biological activity assessment and structural features of prenylflavonoids from hops (Humulus lupulus L.).Phytomedicine (2008)doi
    org/10.1016/j.phymed..01.:18254
    6.Yoshioka H; Kushiro M; Hu S et al.(eds.) [1999]. Gnotobiotics,Worth Publishers Inc.ASIN:B000R0FPHM .

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