Vitamin K in medicine and cosmetology

Many cosmetics experience ups and downs in popularity, but vitamins, important components of natural and physiological cosmetics (best vitamin k eye cream), are always in fashion.

Vitamins (the term comes from the Latin word vita - "life") are organic compounds that have a different structure. As can be seen from the second part of their name - "amine", they were originally assumed to be composed of amines. It has now been found that the structure of vitamin molecules is more diverse. Since the human body is not able to synthesize vitamins in sufficient quantities, they are vital even in minimal quantities. Essential fatty acids, which used to be called vitamin F, as well as essential amino acids, do not belong to vitamins

The vitamin requirements of humans and animals vary considerably. In the body of some animal species, vitamin C can be synthesized. The lower the level of organization of a living being, the more developed its ability to synthesize vitamins. That is why plant foods can fully cover a person's vitamin needs.

It should be borne in mind that many substances contained in food supplements and claimed to be derivatives of vitamins are actually important only for advertising and sales of these products.

Availability

Vitamins control metabolic processes. They carry out protective and other vital functions and are of great importance for the immune system. Vitamins from food are partially absorbed in the intestines due to the activity of the intestinal flora. In addition to free vitamins, the body also absorbs their derivatives, or provitamins, that is, compounds of vitamins with other substances. They are often esters of acids such as acetic acid and palmitic acid, such as tocopherol acetate and tocopherol palmitate. They decompose in the tissues of the body with the participation of enzymes that hydrolyze esters. Often derivatives are less sensitive to atmospheric oxygen. As lipophilic esters, they are more easily absorbed and can be reduced in cosmetic products such as skin care products.

Provitamins are intermediate stages in the formation of vitamins that undergo biochemical transformations in the body. A typical example is beta-carotene, from which vitamin A is formed.

There are water-soluble (hydrophilic) and fat-soluble (lipophilic) vitamins. The higher the fat solubility, the better vitamins can be absorbed and stored. Water-soluble vitamins are sometimes not absorbed and break down in the body if they are taken in large doses. In particular, this applies to vitamin C.

In skin care products, free vitamin C has only a superficial effect, similar to fruit acids, or is used as an antioxidant. A stronger effect on the skin can only be achieved with provitamins combined with penetration enhancers such as liposomes (hydrophilic) or nanodispersions (lipophilic).

Vitamin K is a group of substances similar in structure, the most active of which is Phylloquinone (Vitamin K1), which is found in plants, and Menaquinone (Vitamin K2), which is synthesized by the intestinal microflora. Synthetic analogues of vitamin K are also produced - menadione and water-soluble phytomenadione, which are not inferior in activity to natural vitamin K.

The richest in vitamin K1 are green leafy vegetables, cabbage, nettle, rye, oats, and rose hips. Of the products of animal origin, pork liver and eggs are the richest in vitamin K. Vitamin K2 is synthesized in the large intestine by microorganisms.

Vitamin K is an antihemorrhagic vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting, namely, it is involved in the formation of proteins in the liver - blood clotting factors prothrombin and proconvertin. In addition, vitamin K is involved in the formation and repair of bones by activating the binding of calcium to bone tissue.

Vitamin K deficiency (hypovitaminosis) is quite rare, since its daily requirement in the body is covered by its intake with food and partly by synthesis by the intestinal microflora. Synthesis of vitamin K in the body may decrease against the background of taking antibiotics, since antibiotics have a detrimental effect on the intestinal microflora. Another cause of vitamin K deficiency may be a violation of its absorption from the intestines. This phenomenon can be observed in liver pathologies, such as cirrhosis or cholelithiasis. With liver diseases, the flow of bile into the intestine decreases, while the absorption of fats is disturbed, since bile contains the bile acids necessary for this. As a consequence, the absorption of vitamin K, which is fat-soluble, is impaired and requires the presence of emulsified fats for its absorption. Vitamin K deficiency in the body is manifested by hemorrhagic phenomena, that is, intradermal and subcutaneous hemorrhages, bleeding gums, nasal and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Recently, dermatocosmetologists have shown great interest in vitamin K. Clinical studies have established the possibility of external use of preparations containing vitamin K at a concentration of 1-5% (in the form of phytomenadione). At the same time, there was a decrease in hyperemia and hematomas after laser interventions (laser peeling, laser coagulation of telangiectasias, laserectomy of skin neoplasms), plastic surgeries (blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, lifting, liposuction), acceleration of resorption of hematomas after injection contouring, as well as stimulation of skin recovery after chemical peels and sunburns.

Vitamin K is introduced into the composition of cosmetic products at a concentration of 1-6%. Creams with this vitamin are used to combat dark circles around the eyes and prevent rosacea and rosacea. The introduction of 2% vitamin K with a formulation based on phosphatidylcholine makes it possible to increase the specific activity of the cosmetic product by almost 6 times by increasing the bioavailability of phytomenadione and ensuring its penetration into the deep layers of the skin.

Features of use

Vitamin K is a photosensitive vitamin, so it breaks down quite quickly under the influence of ultraviolet rays.

Vitamin K is destroyed by alkalis.

Vitamin K retains its activity when heated, so it does not have strict restrictions regarding the input temperature.

For better penetration, formulations containing vitamin K must contain fats and phospholipids (lecithin)

Vitamin K should be used in combination with other fat-soluble vitamins (vit. E), carotenoids and plant antioxidants (carnosolic acid), flavonoids (dihydroquercetin) and vitamin C.

Source:  https://clavit.com