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Vitamin · in-depth review

Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone)

Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone)

Phylloquinone is the vitamin K in green leafy vegetables; in the liver it carboxylates prothrombin and other clotting factors so calcium can bind these proteins and complete normal hemostasis.

Also known asPhylloquinone
Related diseasesOsteoporosis
Related symptomsSlow wound healing

Marked asPrimarySupporting

Primary

Supports blood clotting

γ-Glutamyl carboxylase uses K1 as a cofactor so prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X can bind calcium and join the coagulation cascade. Spinach, kale, choy sum, and broccoli are the main food sources; people who bruise easily, whose gums bleed, and who almost never eat greens should first check whether this hepatic carboxylation path has been left empty by the diet.

Supporting

Promotes bone mineralization

Osteocalcin is likewise a vitamin K–dependent protein and can bind hydroxyapatite only after carboxylation. Dietary K1 is taken up mainly by the liver first; greens remain the largest food source of vitamin K for the whole day. In a packed-lunch culture with few vegetables, both clotting factors and bone matrix lack this kind of carboxylation substrate.

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Slow wound healing

γ-Glutamyl carboxylase uses K1 as a cofactor so prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X can bind calcium and join the coagulation cascade. People whose small cuts crust slowly and keep splitting more often notice healing speed and a smoother scar surface after several continuous weeks.

Osteoporosis

γ-Glutamyl carboxylase uses K1 as a cofactor so prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X can bind calcium and join the coagulation cascade. People with low bone density who worry about fracture risk more often notice follow-up scans and confidence moving after several continuous weeks.

With foodBest taken with food (not on an empty stomach)
Best timeMorning or midday
SolubilityFat-soluble

For people on warfarin, the priority is a stable daily intake—not cutting out vitamin K entirely.

General wellness120 mcg/day for adult men; 90 mcg/day for adult women (AI)
Specific needsNo official UL; typical adult supplement daily safety upper limit is about 1,000 mcg. people on anticoagulants must not self-adjust, must be decided by a clinician.

How oftenUse the adequate daily intake; anyone on anticoagulants must ask a doctor first.

Cautions

People with cholestasis or fat malabsorption should ask a clinician first.

People on vitamin K antagonists must keep intake stable and follow clinician monitoring.

Interactions

  1. Warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists (intake must stay stable)
Common side effects

· Usual food and supplement amounts are generally well tolerated

Rare but important

· Unstable anticoagulation control may increase thrombosis risk.

Long-term dependenceDoes not cause addiction or typical tolerance.

Sources

These are institution pages you can check—not a certification of this ingredient.

Medical disclaimerThis page is compiled by the HerbBB editorial team for general health information only. It is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified clinician. If you have a health condition, take medicines, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with a professional first.