It's not unusual to be alarmed by the sight of blood, but unchecked bleeding can be downright terrifying. Fortunately, your body contains a number of proteins called human coagulation factors, or clotting factors, that aid in staunching the flow of blood. Four of these clotting factors, designated by the Roman numerals II, VII, IX and X, depend on vitamin K to function properly, according to Drugs.com.
The Coagulation Cascade
When you're injured and bleeding, your body responds by initiating a series of reactions, each involving a specific protein, or clotting factor. When one reaction occurs, it triggers the next, until finally a blood clot forms. A lack of one or more of the necessary clotting factors disrupts this chain reaction and prevents blood from clotting properly.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is an essential vitamin, meaning that your body cannot produce it on its own. You have to acquire it through supplementation or dietary sources. According to the World Health Organization publication "Vitamin and Mineral Requirements in Human Nutrition," scientists are only sure of one purpose that vitamin K serves: it supports the process of blood coagulation.
Clotting Factor II
Deficiencies in a substance called prothrombin are known as Factor II deficiencies. You can become deficient in prothrombin due to a vitamin K deficiency caused by long-term antibiotic uses, obstruction of your bile duct or malabsorption of nutrients from your intestines. Factor II deficiency can be genetically inherited, but this is rare. Symptoms of Factor II deficiency include nosebleeds, bruising and abnormal bleeding.
Clotting Factor VII
Factor VII levels can be depleted by the same causes of vitamin K deficiency as those of Factor II, according to MedlinePlus. Liver disease and the use of anticoagulant drugs can also contribute to Factor VII deficiency. A deficiency in Factor VII can result in abnormal bleeding and excessive menstrual bleeding.
Clotting Factor IX
Deficiencies in Factor IX can result be genetic, or can be caused by liver disease, vitamin K deficits, malabsorption of fat or taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin. Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a condition that results in abnormal clotting factor activity, can also cause a deficiency in clotting Factor IX.
Clotting Factor X
Factor X deficiency is often genetic, according to MedlinePlus, a condition called inherited factor X deficiency, which can cause mild to severe bleeding. It can also result from vitamin K deficiency, liver disease, anticoagulant medications, and amyloidosis. Nosebleeds and bleeding of the muscles, mucus membranes and areas surrounding the joints are characteristic symptoms of a deficiency in factor X
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