Vitamin K Deficiency

Vitamin K, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, is stored by the body in the liver and fat tissues. It plays an important role in clotting blood and preventing excessive bleeding. It also plays a key role in maintaining our bone health.

Vitamin K deficiency is rare because it is easily available from large variety of foods like green leafy vegetables, other vegetables and dairy products, meats, eggs, cheese and even synthesized by bacteria present in the small intestine, which is absorbed and recycled by our body efficiently.

Causes Of Vitamin K Deficiency

Though vitamin K deficiency is not very common, yet it can occur in individuals belonging to any age group, but is most often encountered during infancy.

It is an essential nutrient that promotes blood clotting and also plays an important role in preserving bone density and heart health. Lack of vitamin K can results in weak bones, osteoporosis and heart diseases. Here are some basic causes of vitamin K deficiency.

Poor Dietary Choices

Not consuming adequate amount of vitamin K rich foods like spinach and other leafy green vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, turnips, peas, onions, eggs, whole wheat bread etc. can cause vitamin K deficiency.

Overuse Of Antibiotics

Overuse of antibiotics can also destroy beneficial intestinal bacteria, besides eliminating harmful bacteria, which are needed for vitamin K production and lead to significant decrease in the vitamin k absorption.

Antacids

Taking too many antacids for reducing stomach acid and heartburn can also have an adverse effect on vitamin K forming bacteria as excessive intake of antacid can disrupt the acidic environment needed for producing these beneficial bacteria.

This is why it is recommended to eat yogurt or take probiotic supplement that can aid in producing beneficial bacteria after prolonged use of antibiotics.

Diseases

Many diseases like yeast infection, hepatitis, leukemia and cirrhosis lupus can also lead to vitamin K deficiency. Inflammatory bowel disease and other diseases of the intestine prevent absorption of nutrients by affecting the small intestine.

They make the body deficient of certain vitamins and minerals. Liver damage due to alcoholism or hepatitis can also cause vitamin k deficiency as vitamin K is processed in the liver after it is absorbed by small intestine. So when the liver gets damaged, vitamin K is unable to perform its function.

Symptoms Of  Vitamin K Deficiency

Vitamin K deficiency can cause excessive bleeding and bruising due to which wounds heal slowly. Those who get frequent nose bleeds without any injury or accident may have deficiency of vitamin K.

Heavy bleeding during menstruation and excessive bleeding during minor cuts can also be the symptom of vitamin K deficiency.

Treatment Of  Vitamin K Deficiency

Consuming Vitamin K rich foods, taking probiotics and doing regular exercise is a simple cure for people with minor vitamin K deficiency. For severe vitamin K deficiency, oral and intravenous medicines are used to restore proper level of vitamin K. Often a patient is given vitamin K supplement when he or she is taking antibiotics for a prolonged period.

Vitamin K injections are often administered to children with symptoms of vitamin K deficiency. When no other treatment works, a person with severe vitamin K deficiency may have to undertake a plasma transfusion to restore the level of vitamin K.