Metabolic Studies of Vitamin K₁-¹⁴C and Menadione-¹⁴C in the Normal and Hepatectomized Rats^[*]

Summary

The metabolism of vitamin K_1- ¹⁴C and menadione-¹⁴C (vitamin K₃-¹⁴C) was studied in normal and hepateetomized rats. After the administration of menadione, about 70% of the ¹⁴C was excreted in the urine in 24 hrs in both types of rats. Two urinary metabolites were identified by enzymatic hydrolysis: one a glucuronide and the other a sulfate of reduced menadione. Thus, the liver is not necessary for the metabolism of menadione. In the vitamin K₁ studies, the intact rats excreted only 10% of the ¹⁴C and the hepatectomized rats excreted less than 0.5%. The retention of vitamin K₁ may explain its superiority over menadione as an antidote for overdosages of oral anticoagulants.

^* This investigation was supported in part by Research Grants AM-3932 and HE-9863 from the National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, and by a grant from the Medical Research Council of Canada.

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