title: A comprehensive review of vitamin K and vitamin K antagonists.
abstract: For more than 60 years, vitamin K-dependent proteins have been known to play an important role in regulating blood coagulation. During recent years it has become clear, however, that vitamin K is also involved in other physiologic processes, including bone metabolism and vascular biology. Because the vitamin K requirement of bone and vessel wall is higher than that of the liver (where the clotting factors are produced) recommended daily allowance (RDA) values for K vitamins must be redefined. According to the new definition, a substantial part of the population is mildly deficient in vitamin K, and at later ages this deficiency may contribute to increased bone fracture risk, arterial calcification, and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vitamin K Research, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vermeer
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Schurgers
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014812:Vitamin K; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases