Deficiency of Vitamin K

Biochemistry Dr. B.Dhanasree M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D. Govt. Degree College (A) Kurnool Email. Id : [email protected] Objectives Vitamin E • At the end of this presentation, the viewer is expected to be able to : • Understand The Importance of & Vitamin E and K. • Learn the structures of Vitamin E and K Anemia. Vitamin K • Understand the Nutritional importance of Vitamin E and K. A vitamin is an organic molecule that is an essential micronutrient which an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in the organism, either at all or not in sufficient quantities, and therefore must be obtained through the diet. Vitamins are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. There are 13 vitamins your body needs. They are. Vitamin A. B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate) Vitamin E As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E protects cells against premature aging and damage by free radicals. Vitamin E is a group of powerful antioxidants, the most common of which is alpha tocopherol. Its main function is to serve as an antioxidant and protect the body’s cells against damage by free radicals. The most abundant dietary sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. Deficiency is very rare in healthy people. Structure of Vitamin E Vitamin E is a group of eight fat soluble compounds that include four tocopherols and four tocotrienols Both the tocopherols and tocotrienols occur in α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma) and δ (delta) forms, as determined by the number and position of methyl groups on the chromanol ring. Of the many different forms of vitamin E alpha-tocopherol (α- tocopherol) is the most biologically active The four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) are similar in structure to the four tocopherols, with the main difference being that the former have hydrophobic side chains with three carbon- carbon double bonds, whereas the tocopherols have saturated side chains. Types of Vitamin E Vitamin E is a family of eight structurally similar antioxidants that are divided into two groups: Tocopherols: Alpha-tocopherol, beta- tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and delta-tocopherol. Tocotrienols: Alpha-tocotrienol, beta- tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol and delta-tocotrienol. Alpha-tocopherol is the most common form of vitamin E. It makes up around 90% of the vitamin E in the blood. Function of Vitamin E Vitamin E’s main role is to act as an antioxidant, preventing oxidative stress and protecting fatty acids in cell membranes from free radicals These antioxidant properties are enhanced by other nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin B3 and selenium. In high amounts, vitamin E also acts as a blood thinner, reducing the blood’s ability to clot. Sources of Vitamin E The richest dietary sources of vitamin E include certain vegetable oils, seeds and nuts. Other rich sources include avocados, peanut butter, margarine, fatty fish and fish liver oil. Deficiency of Vitamin E Vitamin E deficiency is uncommon and is never detected in people who are otherwise healthy. It happens most often in diseases that impair the absorption of fat or vitamin E from food, such as cystic fibrosis and liver disease. Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency include muscle weakness, walking difficulties, tremors, vision problems, poor immune function and numbness. Severe, long-term deficiency may lead to anemia, heart disease, serious neurological problems, blindness, dementia, poor reflexes and the inability to fully control body movements. Vitamin K Vitamin K plays a key role in blood clotting. Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble compounds divided into vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Vitamin K1 is mainly found in leafy green vegetables, whereas vitamin K2 comes from animal-sourced foods, such as liver, butter and egg yolks. Types of Vitamin K Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble compounds divided into two main groups: Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone): Found in plant- sourced foods, phylloquinone is the main form of vitamin K in the diet Vitamin K2 (menaquinone): This variety of vitamin K is found in animal-sourced foods and fermented soy products, like natto. Vitamin K2 is also produced by gut bacteria in the colon Additionally, there are at least three synthetic forms of vitamin K. These are known as vitamin K3 (menadione), vitamin K4 (menadiol diacetate) and vitamin K5. Function of Vitamin K Vitamin K plays an essential role in blood clotting. In fact, the “K” stands for “koagulation,” the Danish word for coagulation, which means clotting. But vitamin K has other functions as well, including supporting bone health and helping prevent the calcification of blood vessels, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease. Sources of Vitamin K The best dietary sources of vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) are leafy green vegetables, whereas vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is mainly found in animal-sourced foods and fermented soy products. In contrast to phylloquinone, menaquinone is only found in small amounts in certain high- fat, animal-sourced foods, such as egg yolks, butter and liver. It is also found in certain soy foods. Structure of vitamin K The vitamin K family comprises 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (3-) derivatives. Vitamin K includes two natural vitamers: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Vitamin K2, in turn, consists of a number of related chemical subtypes, with differing lengths of carbon side chains made of isoprenoid groups of atoms. The two most studied ones are menaquinone-4 (MK-4) and menaquinone-7 (MK-7). Vitamin K1 is made by plants and is found in highest amounts in green leafy vegetables, because it is directly involved in photosynthesis. It is active as a vitamin in animals and performs the classic functions of vitamin K, including its activity in the production of blood-clotting proteins. Animals may also convert it to vitamin K2, variant MK-4. Bacteria in the gut flora can also convert K1 into MK-4. All forms of K2 other than MK-4 can only be produced by bacteria, which use these during anaerobic respiration. Vitamin K3 (menadione), a synthetic form of vitamin K, was used to treat vitamin K deficiency, but because it interferes with the function of glutathione, it is no longer used this way in human nutrition. Deficiency of Vitamin K Unlike vitamins A and D, vitamin K isn’t stored in the body in significant amounts. For this reason, consuming a diet lacking in vitamin K may lead to become deficient in as little as a week People who do not efficiently digest and absorb fat are at the greatest risk of developing vitamin K deficiency. This includes those who suffer from celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and cystic fibrosis. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may also raise the risk of deficiency, as well as very high doses of vitamin A, which seem to reduce vitamin K absorption. Mega-doses of vitamin E may also counteract the effects of vitamin K on blood clotting Without vitamin K, blood wouldn’t clot and even a small wound could cause unstoppable bleeding. Fortunately, vitamin K deficiency is rare, since the body only needs small amounts to maintain blood clotting. Low levels of vitamin K have also been linked with reduced bone density and increased risk of fractures in women. .

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