Vitamin K.

Vitamin K is a collective name given to three classifications of fat-soluble compounds—K1 and K2 and K3—that assist the body in two ways: in the critical process of blood clotting in the immediate aftermath of any invasive injury that punctures the integrity of the skin, and in the long-term process of helping the body’s 206 bones maintain their rich density and mineral health. Vitamin K is seldom taken as a dietary supplement, although it is available as such. Most people receive sufficient levels of vitamin K through following a sensible, balanced diet rich in both leafy vegetables and dairy products. Natural vitamin K deficiencies are rare. Cutting-edge research, however, has begun to look into vitamin K as a possible treatment for a range of long-term debilitating conditions, most prominently liver failure, arterial congestion, and Alzheimer's disease.