Vitamin K Deficiency

Overview

Vitamin K comes in two forms:

vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, which occurs in leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale.

vitamin K2 or menaquinone, which occurs in animal-based foods, including butter and egg yolks, and fermented foods, such as kefir. The intestine also creates some of this vitamin.

Both vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 produce proteins that help the blood clot. Blood clotting or coagulation prevents excessive bleeding internally and externally.

If a person has a vitamin K deficiency, that means the person’s body cannot produce enough of these proteins, increasing the risk of excessive bleeding.

Most adults obtain an adequate supply of vitamin K through the foods they eat and through what their body naturally produces.

Certain medications and medical conditions can reduce vitamin K production and inhibit absorption, meaning adults can become deficient.

Vitamin K deficiency is much more likely to occur in infants. When it does, it is known as vitamin K deficiency bleeding or VKDB.

Symptoms

There are several symptoms associated with vitamin K deficiency. The main symptom is excessive bleeding.

Excessive bleeding may not be immediately evident, as it might only occur if the person gets a cut.

Additional signs of excessive bleeding can include:

1.bruising easily

2.small blood clots appearing under the nails

3.bleeds in mucous membranes that line areas inside the body

4.stool that is dark black, tar-like, or contains blood

When looking for signs of vitamin K deficiency in newborn babies and infants, doctors will also look for:

1.bleeding from the area where the umbilical cord has been removed

2.bleeding in the skin, nose, gastrointestinal tract, or other areas

3.bleeding at the penis if the baby has been circumcised

4.sudden brain bleeds, which are deemed severe and potentially life-threatening

Treatment

If a person develops a vitamin K deficiency, a healthcare provider will give them a vitamin K supplement called phytonadione.

The person usually takes the supplement orally, though injections are also available if the person’s body is less able to absorb the supplement by mouth.

A doctor will also consider whether a person is taking anticoagulants, as these can interact with vitamin K.

Causes and risk factors

Adults are at an increased risk of vitamin K deficiency and the associated symptoms if they:

take blood thinners, or anticoagulants, which prevent blood clots but inhibit vitamin K activation take antibiotics that interfere with vitamin K production and absorption do not get enough vitamin K from the foods they eat take extremely high doses of vitamin A or E

Some medical conditions can make vitamin K deficiency more likely to develop, such as conditions where the body is less able to absorb fat. This is known as fat malabsorption.

Conditions associated with fat malabsorption include:

1.celiac disease

2.cystic fibrosis

3.an intestinal or biliary tract (liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts) disorder

4.having had part of the intestine removed, such as during bariatric surgery

There are several reasons why newborn babies are more prone to vitamin K deficiency:

1.breast milk is low in vitamin K

2.vitamin K does not transfer well from the placenta to the baby

3.a newborn’s liver is unable to use vitamin K efficiently

4.a newborn’s gut cannot produce vitamin K2 in the first few days of life

Foods that are high in vitamin K include:

1.green leafy vegetables, including spinach, kale, lettuce, and broccoli

2.vegetable oils

3.some fruits, such as blueberries and figs

4.meat, including liver

5.cheese

6.eggs

7.chickpeas

8.soybeans

9.green tea

People can also take vitamin K supplements. It is best to talk to a doctor before taking these as they could interfere with existing medications.

Vitamin K and newborns

Vitamin K administered at birth, usually as a shot, can prevent a deficiency in newborn babies.

A vitamin K shot is especially important for newborns under certain conditions. Risk factors for vitamin K deficiency bleeding include:

premature delivery

maternal use of antiseizure drugs, anticoagulants, or drugs for tuberculosis

babies who have fat malabsorption due to gastrointestinal or liver disease

newborns who do not receive an injection of vitamin K at birth

It is up to the parents to decide whether their baby receives a vitamin K injection. Experts recommend the injection as it can protect against problems such as intracranial hemorrhage, brain damage, and infant death.

Most adults with vitamin K deficiency have a serious health problem such as:

1.diabetes.

2.chronic kidney disease.

3.cystic fibrosis.

4.digestive disorders such as coeliac disease.

5.a blocked bile duct.

What happens if we lack vitamin K?

In adults, a vitamin K deficiency tends to cause excessive bleeding. You might notice that you bleed a lot from a minor injury, and that the wound doesn't heal as quickly as it should. Bleeding might come in the form of nosebleeds, heavy periods, blood in the urine, or bleeding from the gums.

How do you treat vitamin K deficiency?

Treatment of Vitamin K Deficiency

A vitamin K injection in the muscle is recommended for all newborns to reduce the risk of bleeding within the brain after delivery. If vitamin K deficiency is diagnosed, vitamin K is usually taken by mouth or given by injection under the skin.

What fruit is high in vitamin K?

A cup of sliced avocado can give you up to 50 micrograms of vitamin K. One-half cup of stewed prunes nets you about 32 micrograms. Blueberries (14 microgram/half-cup) and grapes (11 micrograms/half-cup) and apples (up to 5 micrograms for one small apple) have lower amounts but are easy to add to a meal on the go.