Final answer:
Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of clotting factors in the body, acting as a coenzyme for the production of prothrombin, which is crucial in the blood clotting process. It is a fat-soluble vitamin and an excess can be stored in body fat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vitamin necessary for the manufacture of clotting factors is vitamin K. This is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a critical role in blood clotting. The liver requires vitamin K to produce many of the clotting factors that are essential for the coagulation process.
Vitamin K is intricately involved in the synthesis of prothrombin, a plasma protein that is converted into thrombin, an enzyme responsible for transforming fibrinogen into fibrin, the insoluble protein that forms the foundation of a blood clot. Without adequate vitamin K, the body cannot properly form blood clots, which could result in increased bleeding times and other clotting disorders.
While other vitamins also contribute to overall health, such as vitamin E's role in protecting red blood cells and the water-soluble vitamins B and C which are excreted when in excess, it is specifically vitamin K that is necessary for the synthesis of clotting factors. Unlike vitamins B and C, which do not have a storage mechanism in the body, fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin K can accumulate in body fat and may reach unhealthy levels if intake is too high.