Name Menadione, Vitamin K3
Molecular Formula C11H8O2
Molecular Weight 172.18
CAS No. 58-27-5
EINECS 200-372-6
Despite the fact that it can serve as a precursor to various types of vitamin K, menadione is generally not used as a nutritional supplement. Large doses of menadione have been reported to cause adverse outcomes including hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency, neonatal brain or liver damage, or neonatal death in some cases. Moreover, menadione supplements have been banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because of their high toxicity. Menadione has been used experimentally as a chemotherapic agent for cancer, ca 1945, but has lost ground to much safer, human form, vitamin K2 vitamers. Low level menadione is still used as an inexpensive micronutrient for livestock in many countries. Forms of Menadione are also included in some pet foods as a source of vitamin K.
ITEM | STANDARD | RESULTS |
Appearance | White crystalline powder | Conforms |
Purity | ≥96.0% | 99.5% |
Menadione | ≥50.0% | 51.9% |
Sodium bisulfite | ≤5.0% | 1.5% |
Water (karl fisher) | ≤13.0% | 11.0% |
Heavy metals (Pb) | ≤0.002% | Conforms |