Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Vitamin K and blood clotting
Vitamin K's main function is to regulate normal blood clotting (because of its role in the synthesis of prothrombin). Blood clotting is a method that begins routinely when any injury produces a tear in a blood vessel. The process of blood clotting involves a set of molecules, which circulate endlessly through the bloodstream. Vitamin K regulates usual blood clotting by serving the body transport calcium. Protein Z appears to improve the action of thrombin (the activated form of prothrombin) by promoting its connection with phospholipids in cell membranes. Protein C and protein S are anticoagulant proteins that give control and balance in the coagulation cascade. Vitamin K2, not vitamin K1 (phylloquinone; phytonadione), can get better a group of blood disorders known as myelodysplastic syndromes.
