Vitamin K

Abstract

Vitamin K is the generic descriptor for 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and all its derivatives exhibiting qualitatively biological activity of phylloquinone. K are side-chain homologs; each is hydrophobic and insoluble in aqueous environments as plasma, interstitial fluids, and cytoplasm. The 1,4-naphthoquinone ring system of vitamin K renders it susceptible to metabolic reduction. The typical role of vitamin K is maintaining normal blood coagulation function. Thus, deficiencies of vitamin K have a narrow clinical spectrum: hemorrhagic disorders. The most common cause of vitamin K deficiency is that the microfloral production or absorption of the vitamin is interfered.