Do any nuts have vitamin K? Discover the nutty truth

December 18, 2025 •

3 min read

A 2003 study on the US food supply found that, with the exception of pine nuts and cashews, nuts are generally not considered significant dietary sources of vitamin K. This fact leads many to question: do any nuts have vitamin K, and which ones provide a meaningful amount?

Quick Summary

Some nuts, particularly pine nuts and cashews, contain notable levels of vitamin K, while others offer very little. The vitamin K content in nuts is generally much lower than in leafy green vegetables, but they can still contribute to your daily intake.

Key Points

Pine nuts and cashews are the best nut sources of vitamin K: They contain the highest and most notable amounts of the vitamin compared to other nuts.
Most nuts have negligible vitamin K content: Common nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans provide very little to no vitamin K.
Leafy greens are superior vitamin K sources: Vegetables like kale and spinach contain significantly more vitamin K than nuts.
Nuts provide K1 (phylloquinone): The vitamin K in nuts is predominantly the plant-based form, K1.
Pairing nuts with other foods aids absorption: As vitamin K is fat-soluble, the healthy fats in nuts can help your body absorb it more efficiently from other sources.
Nuts are a good complementary source, not a primary one: While they contribute to your intake, they should not be your main source for meeting daily vitamin K requirements.

A Surprising Source of a Vital Nutrient

While leafy greens like kale and spinach are the most famous sources of vitamin K, some types of nuts can also provide a small, yet meaningful, boost to your intake. Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins essential for blood clotting and healthy bones. Since nuts are a great source of healthy fats, they can also aid in the proper absorption of this vital nutrient. However, not all nuts are created equal when it comes to vitamin K content.

The Nuts with the Most Vitamin K

When examining the vitamin K content in nuts, a few stand out from the crowd. Their contributions are still modest compared to leafy greens but can be a useful part of a varied diet.

Pine Nuts Dried pine nuts lead the pack as the nut with the highest amount of vitamin K. A single ounce (28g) serving provides approximately 15 mcg of vitamin K, which is a decent portion of the recommended daily intake.

Cashews These creamy nuts are another solid source of vitamin K. An ounce of raw cashews contains about 9.7 mcg of vitamin K. Cashews are also praised for their role in supporting bone health due to their rich profile of other minerals like magnesium and manganese.

Pistachios and Hazelnuts Pistachios have also been noted for containing vitamin K, alongside other beneficial nutrients. Hazelnuts contain a smaller amount, providing about 4 mcg of vitamin K per ounce. Adding these nuts to your diet offers a variety of nutrients and textures, along with a bit of vitamin K.

Nuts with Negligible Vitamin K

For many popular nuts, the vitamin K content is extremely low or undetectable. While these nuts offer a wealth of other health benefits, they are not reliable sources for this particular vitamin.

Almonds: Despite being a nutritional powerhouse for other vitamins and minerals, almonds contain virtually no vitamin K, with some analyses showing 0 mcg per serving.
Walnuts and Pecans: Similar to almonds, both walnuts and pecans contain very low or trace amounts of vitamin K.
Macadamia Nuts and Brazil Nuts: These are also not considered a source of vitamin K, with studies confirming minimal or non-existent levels.

Nuts vs. Greens: A Vitamin K Comparison

The following table illustrates the vast difference in vitamin K content between nuts and other common food sources. Values are per 100 grams unless otherwise noted.


Food Source	Vitamin K (mcg) per 100g	Notes
Kale, raw	~483 mcg	Excellent source, significantly higher than nuts.
Spinach, raw	~145 mcg	Another top leafy green source.
Pine nuts, dried	~54 mcg	Top nut source.
Cashews, raw	~34 mcg	Second best nut source.
Hazelnuts	~14 mcg	Moderate nut source.
Pistachios, dry roasted	~13 mcg	Moderate nut source.
Pecans	~3.5 mcg	Low nut source.
Walnuts	~2.7 mcg	Low nut source.
Almonds	0 mcg	Negligible source.

How to Increase Vitamin K from Nuts

For those looking to boost their vitamin K intake from nuts, incorporating the right types into your daily meals is key. Here are a few simple strategies:

Add pine nuts to salads: Sprinkle dried pine nuts over a spinach salad for a double dose of vitamin K.
Snack on cashews: Grab a handful of raw cashews for a midday snack that provides both healthy fats and a boost of vitamin K.
Use nut butters wisely: Some nut butters may contain trace amounts, but for the best results, stick to whole pine nuts and cashews.

For a more comprehensive look at vitamin K and its functions in the body, you can refer to authoritative sources such as the National Institutes of Health Fact Sheet.

Conclusion

While some nuts, most notably pine nuts and cashews, do contain vitamin K, they are not the most potent dietary source. Leafy green vegetables overwhelmingly provide higher quantities of this fat-soluble vitamin. However, including these specific nuts in your diet is a flavorful and nutritious way to get a little extra vitamin K alongside other important minerals and healthy fats. For a substantial intake, it's best to rely on a varied diet that includes plenty of leafy greens and to see nuts as a complementary source rather than the primary one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dried pine nuts contain the most vitamin K among nuts, offering about 15 mcg per one-ounce serving. Cashews are the next best source.

No, almonds contain virtually no vitamin K. Some food databases list the content as 0 mcg, confirming they are not a source of this vitamin.

Nuts are not a good overall source of vitamin K compared to leafy green vegetables. While some nuts like pine nuts and cashews contain moderate amounts, they are not comparable to the high levels found in greens.

Excellent sources of vitamin K include dark, leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli. Other sources include vegetable oils, eggs, and certain fermented foods.

The vitamin K in nuts and leafy greens is predominantly vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), the plant-based form of the vitamin.

Focus on consuming nuts known to contain vitamin K, such as pine nuts and cashews. Pairing them with other fat-soluble vitamins and healthy fats can help with absorption.

No, not all nuts contain vitamin K. Many popular types, including almonds and walnuts, have negligible amounts, while pine nuts and cashews contain a measurable quantity.