Dietary reference values: EFSA publishes advice on vitamin K

EFSA has set dietary reference values for vitamin Dietary substance needed in very small amounts to support normal growth and maintenance of health in humans and animals. Most vitamins are 'essential' as they are not made within the body. K as part of its review of scientific advice on nutrient An element or compound needed for normal growth, development and health maintenance. Essential nutrients cannot be made by the body and must, therefore, be consumed from food. intakes.

The Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition The science of how diet relates to the body's need for sustenance. and Allergies (NDA) decided to maintain the dietary reference values established by the Scientific Committee for Food in 1993. Consequently, the NDA Panel defined daily adequate intakes (AIs) for vitamin K as follows:

• 10 µg for infants aged 7-11 months.
• 12 µg for children aged 1-3 years.
• 20 µg for children aged 4-6.
• 30 µg for children aged 7-10.
• 45 µg for children aged 11-14.
• 65 µg for adolescents aged 15-17 and
• 70 µg for adults including for pregnant and lactating women.

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood coagulation and bone mineralisation. It naturally occurs in food as phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2). Low vitamin K intake is associated with a tendency to bleeding due to a low activity of blood coagulation factors. Food sources of vitamin K include dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, kale and Brussels sprouts.

EFSA considered comments and input on the draft scientific opinion Opinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment. it received during a six-week public consultation in early 2017.

• Dietary Reference Values for vitamin K
• Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin K

Correction: this story originally indicated the unit of measurement as “mg” while EFSA’s opinion states “µg”. The unit of measurement has been corrected accordingly.