Aquaculture Nutrition Volume 17, Number 6 (December 2011) 
Vitamin K in fish nutrition
Authors: C. KROSSØY 1, R. WAAGBØ 2, R. ØRNSRUD 2 Author Affiliations:
| 1: | Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway |
| 2: | National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Bergen, Norway |
Source: Aquaculture Nutrition, Volume 17, Number 6 (December 2011) Page Numbers: 585 – 594 Available Full Text:
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Abstract: Vitamin K belongs to the lipid soluble vitamins, and occurs naturally as phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinone (vitamin K2). In addition, there is a synthetic provitamin, menadione (vitamin K3), primarily used as a vitamin K source in animal feed. Menadione is unstable during feed processing and storage and the dietary content may reach critically low levels. Recent publications also question the availability of menadione in feed for salmonids. Vitamin K plays vital roles in blood coagulation and bone mineralization in fish, but the suggested minimum requirement varies considerably depending on the vitamin K source used. Vitamin K deficiency is characterized by mortality, anaemia, increased blood clotting time and histopathological changes in liver and gills. However, one should assess both inherent and supplemented forms of vitamin K in feeds for exact determinations, as relevant novel feed ingredients of plant origin may be sufficient to meet the requirement for vitamin K. The current review gives an overview of the biochemical role of vitamin K, and discusses vitamin K requirement in fish in light of updated literature, with special emphasis on salmonids.
Citation: C. KROSSØY, R. WAAGBØ, R. ØRNSRUD . Vitamin K in fish nutrition. Aquaculture Nutrition, Volume 17, Number 6 (December 2011), pp. 585-594,
URL: http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4879AEBD3D321DCF386C
