Vitamin K injections are routinely given to new born babies to help prevent permanent injury or death that occurs from uncontrolled bleeding in the brain due to extremely low levels of vitamin K in the newborn system. According to Dr. Ben Kim, the incidence of this occurring is 1.8 out of every 100,000 babies. The bleeding in the brain generally occurs between week three and week seven after birth.
Function
Vitamin K is normally found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. In the body, this vitamin plays a major role in the production of chemicals that are important in blood clotting. Without vitamin K, the blood is less likely to clot well, and babies and adults can experience bruising or abnormal bleeding. Vitamin K is also used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, because it is essential for the absorption of calcium and to build strong bones.
Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood coagulation. Newborn babies who are exclusively breast-fed can be at increased risk of vitamin K deficiency because human breast milk can be relatively low in vitamin K, especially when the mother's diet is also low in vitamin K. Vitamin K is not easily transported across the placental barrier, and so infants are born with relatively low levels as well. Mothers who are on anticonvulsant medications may be at risk of vitamin K deficiency and not have enough to pass through breast milk. This deficiency is called vitamin K deficiency bleeding of the newborn. It is life-threatening and preventable with an injection of vitamin K1.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for infants to develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding include antiseizure medications in the mother, maternal anticoagulant therapy and maternal antibiotics during pregnancy. Vitamin K is synthesized in the gut from Lactobacillus bacteria, "good bacteria" normally found in the intestines. Antibiotics can kill the Lactobacillus bacteria, reducing the amount of vitamin K the mother's body can produce. Infants who are exclusively breast-fed and have cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, chronic diarrhea or hepatitis are also at higher risk of developing this bleeding disorder.
Controversy
The injection of vitamin K for newborn infants is somewhat controversial. There were some reports of hemolytic anemia and jaundice in the infants who received vitamin K2 in the 1950s. With the switch to vitamin K1 injections, only high doses have produced jaundice. Anaphylaxis is a common side effect when vitamin K is administered intravenously but is rarely reported with intramuscular injections, the most common form of administration. In two studies published in the 1990s, concerns were raised suggesting that the risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia was higher in infants who received vitamin K injections. Since that time, further studies have refuted that information, and the current American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommends that infants receive vitamin K1 intramuscular injections of doses between 0.5 and 1 mg.
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