What is prothrombin?
Prothrombin is a protein present in blood plasma that is an essential component of the blood-clotting mechanism. During an injury or an incident where there is bleeding involved, prothrombin is transformed into a thrombin. Thrombin then acts to transform fibrinogen into fibrin which can then form a blood clot with the help of platelets found in the blood. This process is called coagulation, and it’s intended to stop the bleeding.
Whenever there is a deficiency of prothrombin, a person may suffer from prolonged bleeding. This condition is also known as hypoprothrombinemia. This condition is also associated with vitamin K deficiency which is essential for synthesising prothrombin in the liver.
Symptoms of bleeding disorders:
- easy bruising
- prolonged bleeding
- heavy menstrual periods
- blood in the urine
- swollen or painful joints
- regular nosebleeds
Foods that promote healthy blood clotting are foods high in vitamin K. This includes foods like:
- kale
- spinach
- parsley
- brussels sprouts
- broccoli
- cabbage
- fish
- eggs