Disease ( Hemophilia )

Vitamin K is important in the production of prothrombin, a substance in the blood that is involved in the formation of blood clots.

Other Function:

• Responsible for maintenance of the circulatory system.
• Helps in the prevention of internal bleeding and hemorrhages.
• Helps heal bruises.
• Essential for the normal functioning of the liver.

Symptoms of Deficiency: Bleeding Disorders

Symptoms of Toxicity: Synthetic vitamin K can damage infant liver; natural vitamin K is not toxic.

Recommended Daily Requirements: 300 to 500 micrograms obtained in diet.

Therapeutic Dosage: 200 to 1,600 micrograms.

Food Sources : Green leafy vegetables, safflower oil, dark molasses, carrot, seaweed, peas, tomatoes, honey, wheat germ, egg yolk, soybeans, sunflower oil, yogurt.

Iron is important for the formation of hemoglobin which carries oxygen to all body cells. The red corpuscles of the blood need iron for their formation. Growing children and menstruating women and pregnant women need more iron than others. Anyone having an operation or a loss of blood should get additional iron.

Health Benefits:

• Iron can help prevent and cure anemia

• Iron is important for the production of hemoglobin in the blood. It needs Vitamin C, copper and manganese to be present so that it can be absorbed in the body.
• Iron help in growth.
• Iron can help prevent fatigue

Signs of Iron Deficiency:

• Anemia
• Difficulty in concentration
• Poor memory
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Labored breathing anginal pain
• Brittle lusterless, flattened or spoon-shaped nails
• Swollen ankles
• Hair loss
• Pale skin
• Exhaustion

Recommended Daily Requirement:

• Daily Requirement: Adults - 10 mg.; Teenagers - 12 mg.
• Menstruating women: 15-20 mg.
• Pregnant women: 30 to 60 mg
• Supplemental Dosage: 325 mg. of iron sulfate or gluconate 3-4 times daily.

Note: Trace minerals; use only under doctors guidance.

Food Sources: Green leafy vegetables, green onion, beans, asparagus, oatmeal, grapes, peaches, raisins, poultry, fishes, egg, meat, liver, wheat germ, crushed wheat.

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Hemophilia is a hereditary disease in which the blood will not clot normally. If normal person receives a cut or other injury, blood flowing from cut rapidly forms a clot that serves to stop the bleeding. When a hemophiliac receives a cut or other injury, he may bleed for hours or even days.

There are two basic types of hemophilia, a person with hemophilia A have little to no clotting factor VIII (8). While a person with hemophilia B have a missing or low levels of clotting factor IX (9). In both types a gene is defective; the defective gene interferes with the ability of the body to produce the clotting factors that allow for normal clotting. Although some hemophiliacs live fairly normal lives, others are severely weak and many die prematurely. Hemophilia A occurs in 1 in 10,000 people and Hemophilia B occurs in 1 in 40,000 people.

Causes: Both hemophilia A and hemophilia B are inherited diseases that are transmitted from one generation to the next by a recessive gene located on the X chromosomes. Nearly all hemophiliacs are men, because men have only one X chromosome, the effect of a recessive gene on the chromosome cannot be counterbalanced. Women have two X chromosomes, so that even if a woman carries a gene for hemophilia on X chromosome, it is very likely that her other X chromosome will carry a gene, which is dominant, will prevent her from having the disease, therefore hemophilia is extremely rare in women, but a woman carrying a gene for the disease may transmit it to her sons, and her daughters may transmit it to their sons. The transmission of this gene to offspring accounts for 70% of the cases of hemophilia. The remaining 30% occur from spontaneous changes in genes responsible for causing hemophilia.

Treatments: There no real satisfactory treatment for hemophilia, therefore patients should avoid even minor injuries.

• Patients with hemophilia A will respond to treatment only with fresh or freshly frozen blood plasma or with special concentrates of AHG, the particular clotting factor they need.
• Patients with hemophilia B will respond to stored plasma and frozen plasma as well as concentrates of the missing clotting factor.

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There are 13 blood clotting proteins (coagulation factor) found in the blood. They are designated by Roman Numerals I through XIII. When a blood vessel is damaged, these clotting factors are switched on in a certain order (Blood Clotting Cascade) [link to coagulation page] and work to form a clot. Specifically, these 13 factors normally combine to a clot.

If one factor is missing or present at low levels, this causes hemophilia and other blood clotting problems and a proper clot will not form.

The two most common factor deficiencies are: factor 8 (or factor VIII) deficiency and factor 9 (or factor IX) deficiency. The most common, affecting 80% of the hemophilia population - those with hemophilia A - is factor VIII. When these blood clotting proteins aren't present is not easily stopped.

This factor is so important to the treatment of hemophilia, that instead of saying they have "hemophilia A or B," most people say they are "Factor VIII" or "Factor IX" to identify their condition.

Treatment with Blood Clotting Proteins

Today, many people in the United States infuse blood clotting factor on a "prophy" basis - every other day or so as a preventative measure. This allows them to live a somewhat "normal" life and almost eliminates the worry of spontaneous muscle or joint bleeds.

After an injury, though, daily infusions may be required by your doctor. The factor goes right to work to help form a clot and stop the bleeding.

Recombinant DNA technology

There are many types of factor concentrates available for replacement therapy. Recognized and safe treatment for both hemophilia A and B is a Factor VIII (or Factor IX) concentrate that is made using recombinant dna technology. These recombinant factors are made by inserting the DNA encoding the human protein into mammalian cells grown in culture. They are purified and processed and are non-plasma derived products.