Vitamin K Deficiency Causes

Vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin, is actually a group of three closely related compounds that help your blood clot and contribute to bone strength. Phylloquinone, or vitamin K1, is a natural form of this nutrient that is found in kale, alfalfa and other foods. Menaquinone, or vitamin K2, is produced by bacteria in your intestine. Menadione, or vitamin K3, is a synthetic form of this nutrient that is administered to infants and other people who, for a variety of reasons, need additional vitamin K.

Newborns

Vitamin K does not cross the placenta from a mother to her infant. In addition, since an infant's gastrointestinal tract is normally sterile for a few days after birth, newborns do not possess the colonic bacteria that synthesize vitamin K2. In Western countries, babies are routinely injected with menadione shortly after birth to prevent bleeding problems.

Antibiotics

Even though you can obtain vitamin K from your diet, many people don't eat sufficient amounts of vitamin K-containing foods such as dark leafy greens, liver, milk and egg yolks. If you have to take antibiotics for an infection, the microorganisms that normally produce vitamin K in your intestine will be killed along with the infectious bacteria. If your diet is low in vitamin K, you can develop a temporary deficiency. This can be particularly troublesome if you have to take antibiotics for a long time.

Malabsorption

Since vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, disorders that interfere with the absorption of fat from your intestine can inhibit the assimilation of vitamin K. Cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, impairs the absorption of all fat-soluble vitamins. A 2001 study published in "The Journal of Pediatrics" outlines the need for ongoing vitamin therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis. Likewise, pancreatic insufficiency, a condition where digestive enzyme production is reduced; celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that decreases fat absorption; intestinal surgery; and inflammatory bowel diseases can all contribute to vitamin K deficiency.

Relative Deficiency

In some situations, you may have sufficient levels of vitamin K in your bloodstream, but your body is not capable of using it properly. Vitamin K is less effective in people who take anticoagulants, such as warfarin. Advanced liver disease reduces the synthesis of proteins that help your blood to clot, a condition that may only be partially correctable with vitamin K supplementation. A 2009 study in "The British Journal of Nutrition" demonstrates that certain genetic conditions can interfere with your body's ability to use vitamin K. There is also some evidence that aging and some chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, can interfere with your ability to use vitamin K.

Considerations

Vitamin K deficiency usually manifests itself with easy bruisability, but a variety of other conditions can cause bruising. Although vitamin K deficiency may also play a role in the development of osteoporosis, this relationship is not fully defined. Because vitamin K deficiency is relatively uncommon in healthy people, if you think you need additional vitamin K, you should check with your doctor first.