Vitamin K metabolism: Current knowledge and future research. Issue 8 (27th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Card, David J.; Gorska, Renata; Cutler, Jacky; Harrington, Dominic J.; Traber, Maret G.
• Is Part Of: Molecular nutrition & food research. Volume 58:Issue 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1590
• Page End: 1600
• Publication Date: 2013-12-27
• Subjects: Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 664.0705
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-4125

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Vitamin K is an essential fat‐soluble micronutrient that is required for the post‐translational γ‐carboxylation of specific glutamic acid residues in hepatic and extra‐hepatic proteins involved in blood coagulation and preventing cartilage and vasculature calcification. In humans, sources of vitamin K are derived from plants as phylloquinone and bacteria as the menaquinones. Menadione is a synthetic product used as a pharmaceutical but also represents an intermediate in the tissue‐specific conversion of vitamin K to menaquinone‐4, which preferentially resides in tissues such as brain. Research into vitamin K metabolism is essential for the understanding of vitamin K biology in health and disease. Progress in this area, driven by knowledge of vitamin K and the availability of markers of vitamin K status, has already proved beneficial in many areas of medicine and further opportunities present themselves. Areas of interest discussed in this review include prophylactic administration of vitamin K₁ in term and preterm neonates, interactions between vitamins K and E, the industrial conversion of vitamin K to dihydro‐vitamin K in foods, tissue‐specific conversion of vitamin K to menaquinone‐4, the biological activity of the five and seven carbon metabolites of vitamin K and circadian variations.</p> </abstract>