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Article: Vitamin K and bone health.(Therapeutic Nutrition)
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- April 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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For many years after its discovery in 1935, vitamin K was recognized only as a necessary cofactor in the production of prothrombin, a precursor to thrombin, which is a necessary component of the coagulation cascade. A synthetic form of vitamin K was subsequently created by the pharmaceutical industry and earned FDA approval for treatment of coagulation disorders due to vitamin K deficiency or interference with vitamin K activity, as occurs in certain bowel disorders. This preparation has caused severe and sometimes fatal anaphylactoid reactions when administered intravenously and is not indicated for preventive use.
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