Advances in Nutritional Research was conceived by the Public and Professional Information Committee of the American Institute of Nutrition as a service to the membership of the Institute and to others engaged in research and teaching in the nutritional sciences. This publication, which will consist of a series of annual volumes, is in­ tended to serve primarily as a source of authoritative information on the status of research on topics of active current investigation. In addition, it will contain reviews on subjects of research that have been characterized by progressive, if unspectacular, developments over a period of years. The coverage will extend to basic research in human, animal, and microbial nutrition, nutritional biochemis­ try, clinical nutrition, nutritional toxicology and pathology, and related specialties. The editors hope that this series will assist investigators to keep abreast of new developments in the broad field of nutritional research. It should be 'of particular value to graduate students and to investigators who wish to acquire a grasp of the current state of knowledge in fields other than their own. If the response of authors of the chapters in this first volume and the quality of their contributions are indicative, this hope will be realized. H. H. Draper Chairman, Board of Editors vii Contents Chapter 1 Role of Vitamin K in the Synthesis of Clotting Factors. . . 1 1. W. Suttie 1. Historical Background ..................................... .