THE INFLUENCE OF THE LIVER ON THE UTILIZATION OF VITAMIN K

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Abstract
It is now well established that proper administration of vitamin K and related compounds will in most instances prevent or control hemorrhage resulting from a deficiency of prothrombin. It has been reported also that administration of these substances is less effective when the prothrombin deficiency is associated with extensive hepatic damage (Smith, Warner and Brinkhous,1 Warner,2 Butt, Snell and Osterberg,3 Stewart and Rourke,4 Pohle and Stewart5). The present study was undertaken to determine any possible correlation between the condition of the liver, the occurrence of a deficiency of prothrombin and the subsequent utilization of vitamin K. Hepatic damage was produced by uniform exposure of rats to a known concentration of carbon tetrachloride. The susceptibility of the liver of these animals to carbon tetrachloride was varied by the use of different dietary levels of carbohydrate, protein and fat. Crude concentrates of alfalfa and 2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone were