Tissue phylloquinone and menaquinones in rats are affected by age and gender

Phylloquinone and ten menaquinones (MK-1-MK-10) were measured in liver and eight extrahepatic tissues from male and female rats at 3, 12 and 24 mo of age. Phylloquinone and menaquinones showed characteristic tissue distribution. In liver, all 11 vitamers of vitamin K assayed were present in varying concentrations with phylloquinone and MK-6 the major forms. The only forms of vitamin K found in extrahepatic tissues were phylloquinone, MK-4 and MK-6. Brain contained only MK-4 and traces of phylloquinone. No significant gender difference was observed for phylloquinone except in heart at 3 mo of age (P