ABSTRACT
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is primarily absorbed through the intestinal tract an anti-rickets property. Adequate exposure to sunlight and ingestion of dietary sources of vitamin D are typically sufficient to avoid a deficiency. Rickets, the failure of the bone to properly mineralize, is one type of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin K, discovered in 1929, is made up of many compounds that all contain a 2-methyl-1, 4-napthoquinone ring. The three biologically active sources of vitamin K are phylloquinone, menaquinone and menadione. Vitamin K is best known for its role in the clotting of blood. Specifically, vitamin K is necessary for the post-translational carboxylation of specific glutamic acid residues to form γ-carboxyglutarate for normal coagulation of the blood. The cost of healthcare for individuals appears to increase with age. The risk of vitamin D toxicity is related to the underlying potential cause.
