Clearly, vitamin K needs a new agent. It simply doesn't garner the attention of those media-absorbing nutrients, vitamins C, D and E. Today, we help rectify that by devoting our quiz to all things K.
1. From which German word does the "K" in vitamin K come?
a) Kerngesund
b) Koagulation
c) Krapfen
2. In addition to promoting blood clotting, vitamin K (according to recent studies) helps protect against what condition in older men?
a) Diabetes
b) Sciatica
c) Gout
3. Which leafy-green vegetable has the highest amount of vitamin K?
a) Spinach
b) Kale
c) Collard greens
4. Which specific population group is particularly susceptible to vitamin K deficiency?
a) Octogenarians in cold-weather climates
b) Bodybuilders who use human growth hormone
c) Newborns who are breast-fed
5. Adequate intake of vitamin K for adult males is 120 micrograms per day (90 for adult females). How many raw carrots would you have to eat to reach that level?
a) 1
b) 9
c) 27
ANSWERS: 1: b (German for coagulation); 2: a (reduces the risk of insulin resistance); 3: b (1 cup, 1,062 micrograms); 4: c (human milk is relatively low in vitamin K compared with formula); 5: c
Sources: www.nal.usda.gov; lpi.oregonstate.edu; tuftshealthletter.com
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(c) 2010, The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.). Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.