Final answer:
Vitamin K functions primarily in blood clotting, calcium utilization, and epithelial tissue renewal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vitamin K functions in the chief capacity of blood clotting. It is necessary for the formation of prothrombin, the precursor of thrombin, which is an enzyme that converts fibrinogen into fibrin (the protein that holds blood clots together). Vitamin K increases the activity of clotting factors and plays a vital role in the coagulation process.
Vitamin K also has other roles in the body, such as calcium utilization. It is involved in the absorption of calcium in the digestive tract, its reabsorption in the kidneys, and the maintenance of normal serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate. Additionally, vitamin K is important for epithelial tissue renewal, which includes the maintenance of the epithelium of the large intestine and the formation of a protective barrier against pathogens.