Which one of the following vitamins is involved in blood clotting:

Appeared in: BHU NO-2019

Explanation

Vitamin K is a crucial cofactor for the synthesis of blood clotting factors in the liver.
Its name is derived from the German word 'Koagulation,' which means coagulation.
It is essential for the post-translational gamma-carboxylation of clotting factors II (Prothrombin), VII, IX, and X.
This carboxylation process allows the clotting factors to bind with calcium ions, a critical step for their activation in the coagulation cascade.

Option A: Vitamin E's primary role is as an antioxidant. It does not promote blood clotting.
Option B: Vitamin A is primarily involved in vision, immune function, and cellular growth, not blood coagulation.
Option C: Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone health, not for the synthesis of clotting factors.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing The role of fat-soluble vitamins in physiological processes, specifically blood coagulation helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A key nursing intervention is the prophylactic administration of intramuscular Vitamin K to all newborns to prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), also known as Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn.
Nurses must educate patients taking warfarin (a Vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant) to maintain a consistent dietary intake of Vitamin K (found in green leafy vegetables) to avoid fluctuations in their INR (International Normalized Ratio).
Nurses should assess for signs of Vitamin K deficiency (e.g., bruising, bleeding gums, hematuria) in patients with malabsorption syndromes (like celiac disease, Crohn's disease) or those on long-term antibiotic therapy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is 'blood clotting'.
Next, analyze the options provided, which are all different vitamins.
This is a factual recall question. You need to retrieve the specific knowledge linking one of these vitamins to the process of blood coagulation.
Recall the functions of each fat-soluble vitamin (A, D, E, K).
A useful mnemonic is that 'K' comes from the German word 'Koagulation', directly linking it to clotting.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their primary functions: Vitamin A for vision, Vitamin D for bones, and Vitamin E as an antioxidant.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The role of fat-soluble vitamins in physiological processes, specifically blood coagulation.
Stem keywords: vitamin, blood clotting
Lead-in keywords: Which one
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 517-519

E6 Biochemistry U Satyanarayana— Part 1 (pp 26-420 of 840) p. 121-123

E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-239 of 478) p. 129-131

Practise the full BHU NO-2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.