And Yet Another Misunderstanding

VTIAMIN K IS NOT POTASSIUM!

Potassium is an element on the periodic table represented by the chemical letter K.  This is the second site I've come across mistaking the two for one another.  This time I found it when searching for more information on vitamin k and muscle function on the LIVESTRONG site. 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/292516-leg-cramps-vitamin-k/

Be critical of what you read!

Achilles Tendon Tear and Repair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzzV5BRWlIc

Check out this video if you're into it.  If you don't like blood, avert your eyes, otherwise this is pretty cool and I recommend watching!

Achilles Tendon Tear

An achilles tendon tear is one of the most detrimental tendon tears.  These tears often occur in athletes who participate in running sports.  Tears generally are the result of high tension in the gastrocnemius muscles that at some critical point cannot withstand the demands of the strech reflex and result in snapping of the tendon.

I thought this was a cool picture because it relates bone and muscle health to injury.  The calcaneous (heel bone) provides a strong attachment site for the achilles tendon which anchors the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle.  When the muscle becomes too tight this creates high tension on the tendon and bone.  Our bones are much more able to withstand stress and strain forces so the result is damage to the achilles.  Keeping our muscles healthy and agile through proper nutrition and recovery methods after exercise will prevent tendon ruptures.  Sometimes when BMD is low the tissue is more fragile and prone to stress fractures and degredation.  In this case a tight calf muscle and strong achilles may create enough tension that small bone fragments of the heel are broken off the attachement site of the tendon, rather than the actual tendon experiencing tear.

Indirect Connections

After much searching through various online databases not much has been found on my part relating vitamin k to muscle tissue health.  Over the past weeks of developing our blogs I have learned much about vitamin k and the roles it does have in our bodies.  Here's what we know so far:

Roles of vitamin K

- critical factor in influencing liver enzymes to stimulate the coagualtion cascade for blood clotting factors

- stimulation of bone formation via osteoblasts

- regualtion of osteclast activity and programmed cell death (apoptosis)

- influencing factor in cell formation specifically with the kidneys, heart, lungs

Indirect Effects

As mentioned I have not found any information regarding a driect influence of vitamin k on muscle tissue; however with the knowledge at hand we can gather that it does have indirect influences on our muscles.

- provides strong bones for muscle attachment sites and structural movement

- aids in regulating blood flow via homeostatic feedback of blood coagulation

- provides support of cell formation for organs critical to the maintenance and functioning of our muscles via:
          - proper circulation of blood and nutrients to working muscles
          - adequate perfusion/diffusion within the alveoli of our lungs
          - proper secretion, absorption, and excretion of various toxins and nutrients through renal filtration

Though these are not direct correlations between vitamin k and muscle health it is important to remember what vitamin k does have an inlfuence over that may itself have some direct inlfuence on muscle tissue.

Muscle and Strength

As we know, vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that is present within plant material and the normal flora of our bodies.  Plants synthesize vitamin K1, also known as phylloquinone.  This is present within several plant foods such as green vegetables and certain oils.  Bacteria within our bodies synthesize vitamin K2, also known as menaquinone.  Vitamin K serves important functions in regulating bone tissue health and blood coagulation factors.  It has also been shown to aid in cellular growth, specifically within the heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, and cartilage.

From a perspective related to muscle health, vitamin k acts indirectly by influencing calcium absorption and regulating blood flow.  Without the porper bone structure and blood flow to our working muscles, skeletal muscle tissue would be disadvantaged during growth  and repair.

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/supplements/ingredients/vitamin-k.html

Vitamin K is NOT Potassium!

Just wanted to inlcude this inforamtion into my blog.  It's great how easily we can access information from the internet these days, epsecially looking at peer-reviewed research articles.  On the flip side, there are many invalid sites out there that we need to be weary of when considering using their information for educational purposes.

When I was looking around for information on vitamin k and muscles I came across this site:

http://www.gainmuscleprogram.net/2010/01/31/vitamins-and-relief-vitamin-k-for-leg-cramps/

Some of the information reguarding vitamin k is correct, however they mistakingly confused it with potassium, stating that in fact vitamin k was potassium.  This is not true and proves the point that not everything we find on the interent holds any validity.  Its importnant to be skeptical when looking at non-reviewed sites and to always use a critical mind during research.

Just wanted to share what I had found.

Vitamin K Daily Values

Adequate Intake (AI) for Vitamin K
Life Stage	Age	Males (mcg/day)	Females (mcg/day)
Infants	0-6 months	2	2
Infants	7-12 months	2.5	2.5
Children	1-3 years	30	30
Children	4-8 years	55	55
Children	9-13 years	60	60
Adolescents	14-18 years	75	75
Adults	19 years and older	120	90
Pregnancy	18 years and younger	-	75
Pregnancy	19 years and older	-	90
Breast-feeding	18 years and younger	-	75
Breast-feeding	19 years and older	-	90