Vitamin K & the Thyroid
Located above your collarbone, the thyroid gland is responsible for hormone production. These hormones help control heart rate and regulate calorie burning, contributing to the overall function of your metabolism. Although both vitamin K and your thyroid help with blood clotting, the relationship between the two is not supported by any clear-cut medical evidence from peer-reviewed research. Thyroid function can be affected by any number of elements. To determine the specific cause of poor thyroid function, speak with a medical professional.
A fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and may also help with maintaining strong bones in the elderly. Vitamin K is produced by bacteria residing in your intestines, but the best source of vitamin K is through your diet. Leafy green vegetables — such as kale or spinach — are rich in vitmain K, as are cruciferous vegetables, including Brussels sprouts and cabbage. While it is present in smaller amounts, vitamin K is also found in fish, eggs, liver and various other meats. Some cereals also contain vitamin K, although in lesser quantities.
Low Vitamin K
While it is rare to have low vitamin K because your body can produce it on its own, it is possible. You are more prone to low vitamin K levels if you have liver disease, serious burns, intestinal tract complications such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, or if you are taking blood thinners. Low vitamin K levels can lead to poor blood clotting and abnormal bleeding.
The hormones produced by the thyroid gland regulate metabolism, by ensuring the efficacy of glucose metabolization. Low thyroid hormone levels will make it difficult or impossible for your body’s cells to transform glucose into useable energy. If you are concerned about your thyroid function, ask your doctor for a medical test.
While thyroid function and vitamin K have no scientifically demonstrated relationship, your thyroid assists with blood clotting, something that vitamin K also helps with. Older studies from the 1970s and onwards show that low thyroid hormone levels in rats led to slowed-down blood clotting factor production. Another study in 2008 also showed that thyroid hormone levels affected blood clotting factor production, but no direct relationships between vitamin K and the thyroid was established.
- MedlinePlus: Thyroid Diseases
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin K
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
- Thrombosis and Haemostatis: The Influence of the Thyroid Function on the Metabolic Rate of Prothrombin, Factor VII, and Factor X in the Rat
- International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology: Effects of the Hormones of the Thyroid Axis on the Vitamin K-dependent Plasma Factors of Blood Coagulation (II, VII, IX, and X)
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin K
- American Thyroid Association: Thyroid Function Tests
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