New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vitamin K

Vitamin K denotes a group of 2-methilo-naphthoquinone derivatives. They are human vitamins, lipophilic (i.e., soluble in lipids) and therefore hydrophobic (i.e., insoluble in water). They are needed for the posttranslational modification of certain proteins, mostly required for blood coagulation. Normally it is produced in the intestines, and dietary deficiency is extremely rare.

Related Stories
 


Health & Medicine News

April 14, 2026

Bread and other carbohydrate staples may be doing more than just filling plates—they could be quietly reshaping metabolism. In a surprising twist, researchers found that mice strongly preferred carbs like bread, rice, and wheat, abandoning their ...
Scientists have discovered a way to supercharge the immune system’s T cells by blocking a protein called Ant2, forcing the cells to rewire how they generate energy. This shift makes them more powerful, resilient, and effective at finding and ...
Mitochondria don’t just generate energy—they also carefully organize their own DNA in a surprisingly elegant way. Scientists have discovered that a long-overlooked phenomenon called ...
Spending time with close companions might do more than strengthen bonds—it could also reshape your gut bacteria. In a study of island birds, those with stronger social ties shared more gut microbes, especially types that require direct contact to ...
Public restrooms might seem like a germ nightmare, but the real risks aren’t always where you think. While toilet seats can carry bacteria, viruses, and even parasite traces, studies show they’re often cleaner than high-touch surfaces like door ...
Scientists have developed a new way to fight gum disease without wiping out the mouth’s helpful bacteria—a major shift from traditional treatments. Instead of killing everything, this targeted approach blocks only the harmful microbes that drive ...
New research reveals that obesity affects men and women in surprisingly different ways. Men are more likely to develop harmful abdominal fat and signs of liver stress, while women show higher inflammation and cholesterol levels. These differences ...
For years, scientists believed our lifespan was mostly shaped by environment and chance, with genetics playing only a minor role. But a new study from the Weizmann Institute flips that idea on its ...
A twice-yearly injection may soon change how high blood pressure is treated. In a global trial, patients receiving the experimental drug zilebesiran alongside standard therapy saw greater blood pressure reductions than those on standard treatment ...
A newly discovered molecule could reshape the future of weight loss treatments by mimicking the powerful appetite-suppressing effects of drugs like Ozempic — but without many of the unpleasant side effects. Identified using artificial ...
A new study reveals that popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may not work as effectively for about 10% of people due to specific genetic variants. These individuals appear ...
Researchers are launching a new project to crack the mystery of aggressive breast cancer, where predicting disease progression remains a major hurdle. By studying how tumors interact with and suppress the immune system, scientists aim to identify ...

Latest Headlines

updated 12:56 pm ET