Which of the following vitamin helps in blood clotting in humans?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, Vitamin K. Vitamin K is essential for synthesising several clotting factors in the liver (including prothrombin, Factor II), which the blood-clotting cascade needs to stop bleeding. Without adequate Vitamin K, blood fails to clot properly, causing prolonged bleeding.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Vitamin A supports vision, immune function and epithelial health — it plays no role in the clotting cascade.  (b) The B-complex vitamins support energy metabolism, nerve function and red blood cell formation — none of them are required for clot formation.  (d) Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus absorption for bone health — it is not the clotting vitamin (though calcium itself is a co-factor in the clotting cascade, separate from Vitamin D's main role).

Concept: Vitamin K (from Latin 'Koagulation') is a fat-soluble vitamin required by the liver to produce clotting factors II, VII, IX and X. It exists as K1 (phylloquinone, from green leafy vegetables) and K2 (menaquinone, made by gut bacteria). A deficiency causes easy bruising and prolonged bleeding, which is why newborns are routinely given a Vitamin K injection at birth.

State PCS 2022 Q3 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2022 Q3 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer