Vitamin K refers to a family of fat-soluble vitamins that prove essential to proper health. Your body can absorb vitamin K from your diet or from bacteria that synthesize the vitamin within your digestive tract. Vitamins K-1 and K-2, which come from natural sources, prove safe even at high levels, while consuming a synthetic form of vitamin K, called vitamin K-3, can lead to adverse effects when consumed in large amounts.
Oxidative Damage
One potential side effect of a vitamin K overdose is oxidative damage to your cells and tissues. Oxidative damage occurs due to the presence of reactive oxygen species, or free radicals. Generated within your cells following exposure to radiation, or even as a by-product of cellular metabolism, reactive oxygen species damage your cells by reacting with your DNA, proteins and cell membranes. Oxidative damage can accumulate over time, eventually increasing your risk of a number of diseases, including cancer. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University explains that the presence of vitamin K-3 can inhibit the function of specific antioxidants -- chemicals that neutralize free radicals to protect against oxidative damage. Long-term overexposure to vitamin K-3, such as through over-consuming vitamin supplements, may increase cellular damage within your body.
Liver Damage in Infants
Another potential side effect of vitamin K overdose is the development of liver damage in infants who are given vitamin supplements. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it proves impossible to excrete excess amounts of the vitamin in your urine. Instead, excess vitamin K gets stored within fat cells and liver, accumulating as you consume more and more of the vitamin. This accumulation can prove especially harmful for infants, whose low body weight makes them susceptible having a toxic reaction to even minute doses of the vitamin. The Linus Pauling Institute indicates that injections of vitamin K-3 can lead to liver damage, eventually leading to diminished liver functioning and jaundice in infants. Always consult with a medical professional before providing an infant or child with any vitamin supplement to avoid organ damage.
Drug Interactions
In some cases, over-consuming vitamins can lead to negative health effects due to an interaction with other chemicals present in the body. Excess vitamin K can interact with a number of medications, including some antibiotics, weight-loss medications, anticonvulsants and blood-thinning medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In particular, over-consuming vitamin K can render the blood-thinning medication Warfarin ineffective in the body, increasing the risk of harmful blood clots. If you take medication for an existing condition, always consult with your physician before ingesting any vitamins or dietary supplements to avoid the negative health effects that can occur from drug interactions.
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