Vitamin K: Review and Information
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin named for its role in the coagulation (in German, “koagulation”) of blood. Vitamin K participates in this critical process by altering the amino acid glutamic acid in such a way that it can attach calcium ions and proteins together so blood can clot. Vitamin K is made in the gut and is also obtained from foods, particularly leafy green vegetables. Without Vitamin K, blood could not clot, and...
Vitamin C Benefits and Information
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is probably among the best-known nutrients due to the popularity of Vitamin C supplements to prevent and treat symptoms of colds and infections. Vitamin C was first named in the mid-1700s when the first known nutritional experiment was conducted to find a cure for scurvy, a deadly disease contracted by sailors on long voyages. Since the sailors were consuming all of the fresh fruits and...
Vanadium Insulin Moderator: Beneficial For Diabetics?
Vanadium is a mineral needed in small amounts in the diet. Vanadium is present in soil and in foods. It is also released when petroleum and petroleum products are burned. It is unclear exactly how much vanadium is needed in the diet, and its specific role in the body is uncertain, but vanadium does appear to be useful in treating several diseases. In fact, vanadium was once prescribed as a cure for certain diseases. When it was...
Riboflavin / Vitamin B2 Review & Information
Riboflavin or vitamin B2, is one of a complex of vitamins that plays a significant role in releasing energy from the nutrients in food. Like all of the B vitamins, riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin. Two forms of B2, known as FMN and FAD, are coenzymes that participate in chemical reactions that produce energy. These coenzymes can accept and then donate hydrogen atoms, an important process during energy metabolism. Riboflavin is...
Vitamin A Information & Benefits
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in several chemical forms. Retinal and retinol, forms of Vitamin A found in meat, eggs, and milk, are known as “preformed” Vitamin A. The active form of Vitamin A from these sources is known as retinoic acid. All of these substances are known as retinoids. In plants, Vitamin A is derived from precursors known as carotenoids. There are several carotenoids, which are compounds that give...
Potassium Citrate Review & Information
Potassium citrate is one form of the mineral potassium, a positively charged ion that plays a role in fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Potassium is also essential in controlling muscle activity, particularly contraction and coordination of muscles. It plays an important role in nerve transmission and maintaining heart rhythm as well. In addition, potassium helps to convert glucose into glycogen, which is stored as the body’s...
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