Vitamin K3

Vitamin K3, known as menadione, belongs to the group of fat-soluble vitamins that play a fundamental role in maintaining vital functions in animals. This vitamin is not merely involved in metabolism; it is a critical element for cell health and preventing bleeding.

Role of Vitamin K3 in the Body

Vitamin K3 plays a multifaceted role in the animal body:

• Involvement in Metabolism and Phosphorylation Processes: Vitamin K3 is actively involved in cellular metabolism, especially in phosphorylation processes, which are essential for energy exchange within cells.
• Blood Clotting Catalyst: In the liver, Vitamin K3 acts as a catalyst, influencing the formation of substances vital for blood clotting, such as prothrombin and thromboplastin. These proteins are key components of the blood clotting cascade, ensuring the cessation of bleeding.
• Activation of Calcium-Binding Proteins: Vitamin K3 activates proteins that bind to calcium ions. This is important not only for blood clotting but also for bone health and other calcium-dependent processes.
• Antimicrobial and Regenerative Action: It inhibits the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and promotes tissue regeneration, helping animals recover from various diseases, including parasitic infestations.
• Function in Cell Membranes: Like other fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin K is of significant importance for the function of lipid-protein membranes of cells and cellular organelles, where it or its derivatives are part of the lipid fraction. This ensures the structural integrity and functionality of cells.
• Chemical Relationship: Of particular interest is the chemical relationship of Vitamin K with Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q. This suggests possible synergistic effects and common metabolic pathways, highlighting the complexity of vitamin interactions.

Consequences of Vitamin K Deficiency

A deficiency of Vitamin K can lead to serious disorders, primarily related to the blood clotting system:

• Hemorrhagic Diatheses and Hemorrhages: The most characteristic signs include subcutaneous, nasal, intramuscular, and cavity hemorrhages, as well as decreased blood clotting.
• Reduced Prothrombin Levels: This leads to an increased blood clotting time, making animals vulnerable to internal and external bleeding.
• Anemia: Frequent or extensive bleeding can cause anemia due to red blood cell loss.
• Reduced Biologically Active Substances: A decrease in important substances such as serotonin, histamine, and acetylcholine is noted, which play roles in nerve transmission, immune responses, and other physiological processes.
• Particular Sensitivity in Poultry: Poultry are most sensitive to Vitamin K deficiency. Deficiency is often linked to an increased incidence of coccidiosis, and the use of coccidiostats (drugs for treating coccidiosis) can reduce Vitamin K activity, exacerbating the deficiency.
• Impact on Reproduction: Low intake of Vitamin K in breeding hens can lead to increased embryo mortality, negatively affecting productivity.
• Factors Increasing Requirement: The need for Vitamin K in animals increases with higher levels of animal-derived components in compound feed, as well as with high fungal contamination of feed, which can bind or destroy the vitamin.
• Interaction with Other Vitamins: The cause of Vitamin K deficiency can be increased doses of Vitamins A, D, E, and C, as they may compete for absorption or metabolic pathways, or affect Vitamin K reserves.

Feed Grade Vitamin K3: Composition and Application

Feed grade Vitamin K3 is a supplement developed to compensate for Vitamin K deficiency in the diet of farm animals and poultry. As the active ingredient, it contains menadione nicotinamide bisulfite in an amount of not less than 96%, with menadione accounting for not less than 44% and nicotinamide not less than 31.4%. This confirms the high concentration of the active component.

Feed grade Vitamin K3 is a whitish-yellow powder. It is used for the production of premixes and compound feeds for farm animals, including poultry, with the aim of enriching diets with Vitamin K3. The supplement is incorporated at feed mills or on-farm feed preparation units, using existing mixing technologies and calculating the dosage based on the active ingredient content in the feeds and raw materials used, to ensure optimal intake and prevent deficiency.

Active ingredient: menadione nicotinamide bisulfite.

Content — at least 43 %, of nicotinamide — at least 31 %.