The nurse prepares to administer which medication to the newborn by the intramuscular route?
a- Tetracycline 1%
b- Erythromycin (0.5% Ilotycin)
c- Vitamin K (AquaMEPHYTON)
d- Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination.
---------------------------
What is vitamin K? What is it for?
Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs to be healthy. It is important for blood clotting and bone health, and for other body functions. If you are taking any anticoagulant, such as warfarin (Coumadin®), it is very important that you consume the same amount of vitamin K every day.
What foods are a source of vitamin K?
Vitamin K is naturally present in many foods. To obtain the recommended amounts of vitamin K, you have to consume a variety of foods, such as the following:
- Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale (or cabbage), broccoli and lettuce.
- Vegetable oils.
- Some fruits such as blueberries and figs.
- Meat, cheese, eggs and soybeans.
What types of vitamin K dietary supplements are there?
There are multivitamin / multimineral supplements with vitamin K. Vitamin K is found alone in vitamin K supplements, or in vitamin K supplements with other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and / or vitamin D. Common presentations of vitamin K they are in the form of phylloquinone and phytomenadione (also known as vitamin K1), and menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7 (also known as vitamin K2).
Do I get enough vitamin K?
Vitamin K deficiency is uncommon. In the United States, most people get enough vitamin K from the food they eat. In addition, bacteria in the colon make a certain amount of vitamin K that the body absorbs. However, some people may have difficulty getting enough vitamin K:
- Newborns who do not receive an injection of vitamin K at birth.
- People with certain disorders (such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, short bowel syndrome) that decrease the amount of vitamin K that the body absorbs.
- People who have had bariatric surgery.
What happens if I don't get enough vitamin K?
Severe vitamin K deficiency can cause bruising (bleeding) and bleeding problems because blood clotting is slower. Vitamin K deficiency may reduce bone strength and increase the risk of osteoporosis since the body needs vitamin K for bone health.
What are some of the effects of vitamin K on health?
Scientists study vitamin K to determine how it affects health. Here are some examples of the results of these investigations:
Osteoporosis:
Vitamin K is important for healthy bones. Some research studies indicate that people who consume more foods rich in vitamin K have stronger bones and less likely to break their hips than people who consume less of these foods. A couple of studies have found that taking vitamin K supplements improves bone strength and the chances of breaking a bone, but other studies did not reach the same conclusion. More studies are needed to better determine if vitamin K supplements help improve bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Coronary heart disease:
Scientists study whether low levels of vitamin K in the blood increase the risk of heart disease, possibly by making the blood vessels that travel to the heart become stiffer and narrower. More research is needed to understand if vitamin K supplements help prevent heart disease.
Can vitamin K be harmful?
Vitamin K has not been shown to cause any harm. However, it may interact with some medications, especially warfarin (Coumadin®). See the information below.
Are there interactions with vitamin K that I should know?
Yes, some medications may interact with vitamin K. Some examples are:
- Warfarin (Coumadin®):
Vitamin K could have a serious interaction with warfarin (Coumadin®), which is an anticoagulant. If you take warfarin, make sure that the amount of vitamin K you consume through food and supplements is the same every day. A sudden change in the amount of vitamin K ingested could cause dangerous bleeding (if you consume less) or blood clots (if you consume more).
- Antibiotics:
Antibiotics are capable of destroying the beneficial bacteria of the intestine. Some of these bacteria make vitamin K. Taking antibiotics for several weeks could reduce the amount of vitamin K made in the intestine and, therefore, the amount usable by the body.
a- Tetracycline 1%
b- Erythromycin (0.5% Ilotycin)
c- Vitamin K (AquaMEPHYTON)
d- Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination.
---------------------------
What is vitamin K? What is it for?
Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs to be healthy. It is important for blood clotting and bone health, and for other body functions. If you are taking any anticoagulant, such as warfarin (Coumadin®), it is very important that you consume the same amount of vitamin K every day.
What foods are a source of vitamin K?
Vitamin K is naturally present in many foods. To obtain the recommended amounts of vitamin K, you have to consume a variety of foods, such as the following:
- Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale (or cabbage), broccoli and lettuce.
- Vegetable oils.
- Some fruits such as blueberries and figs.
- Meat, cheese, eggs and soybeans.
What types of vitamin K dietary supplements are there?
There are multivitamin / multimineral supplements with vitamin K. Vitamin K is found alone in vitamin K supplements, or in vitamin K supplements with other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and / or vitamin D. Common presentations of vitamin K they are in the form of phylloquinone and phytomenadione (also known as vitamin K1), and menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7 (also known as vitamin K2).
Do I get enough vitamin K?
Vitamin K deficiency is uncommon. In the United States, most people get enough vitamin K from the food they eat. In addition, bacteria in the colon make a certain amount of vitamin K that the body absorbs. However, some people may have difficulty getting enough vitamin K:
- Newborns who do not receive an injection of vitamin K at birth.
- People with certain disorders (such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, short bowel syndrome) that decrease the amount of vitamin K that the body absorbs.
- People who have had bariatric surgery.
What happens if I don't get enough vitamin K?
Severe vitamin K deficiency can cause bruising (bleeding) and bleeding problems because blood clotting is slower. Vitamin K deficiency may reduce bone strength and increase the risk of osteoporosis since the body needs vitamin K for bone health.
What are some of the effects of vitamin K on health?
Scientists study vitamin K to determine how it affects health. Here are some examples of the results of these investigations:
Osteoporosis:
Vitamin K is important for healthy bones. Some research studies indicate that people who consume more foods rich in vitamin K have stronger bones and less likely to break their hips than people who consume less of these foods. A couple of studies have found that taking vitamin K supplements improves bone strength and the chances of breaking a bone, but other studies did not reach the same conclusion. More studies are needed to better determine if vitamin K supplements help improve bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Coronary heart disease:
Scientists study whether low levels of vitamin K in the blood increase the risk of heart disease, possibly by making the blood vessels that travel to the heart become stiffer and narrower. More research is needed to understand if vitamin K supplements help prevent heart disease.
Can vitamin K be harmful?
Vitamin K has not been shown to cause any harm. However, it may interact with some medications, especially warfarin (Coumadin®). See the information below.
Are there interactions with vitamin K that I should know?
Yes, some medications may interact with vitamin K. Some examples are:
- Warfarin (Coumadin®):
Vitamin K could have a serious interaction with warfarin (Coumadin®), which is an anticoagulant. If you take warfarin, make sure that the amount of vitamin K you consume through food and supplements is the same every day. A sudden change in the amount of vitamin K ingested could cause dangerous bleeding (if you consume less) or blood clots (if you consume more).
- Antibiotics:
Antibiotics are capable of destroying the beneficial bacteria of the intestine. Some of these bacteria make vitamin K. Taking antibiotics for several weeks could reduce the amount of vitamin K made in the intestine and, therefore, the amount usable by the body.
Bile acid sequestrants:
Some people take medications known as "bile acid sequestrants" such as cholestyramine [Questran®] and colestipol [Colestid®]) to lower blood cholesterol levels. These medications reduce the amount of vitamin K absorbed by the body, especially when taken for many years.
Orlistat:
Orlistat (Alli® and Xenical®) is a weight loss medication. It reduces the amount of fat the body absorbs and can reduce the absorption of vitamin K.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist and other health professionals about the dietary supplements and medications (prescription and non-prescription) you take. They will tell you if these dietary supplements could interact or interfere with your medications or if the medications could interfere with the way your body absorbs, uses or metabolizes nutrients such as vitamin K.
Vitamin K and healthy eating:
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans of the federal government, people should get the most nutrients from food. Foods contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers and other substances beneficial to health. In some cases, consuming fortified foods and dietary supplements could provide nutrients that, otherwise, would not be consumed in the minimum recommended amounts. For more information on ways to maintain a healthy diet, see the Dietary Guidelines for Americanxternal link disclaimer and the food guidance system of the United States Department of Agriculture, MyPlate.external link disclaimer
