Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamins. Deficiency from low dietary intake is rare but possible. Some populations are susceptible to vitamin K deficiency, however. If the body is running low, symptoms such as bleeding gums and hematuria, or blood in the urine, can result. It is important to consult a health care professional for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as bleeding.
Function and Sources of Vitamin K
Vitamin K helps certain proteins to work by adding chemicals called carboxy groups to proteins. Specifically, it adds carboxy groups to a particular amino acid called glutamate found in the protein. Most of these modified glutamate structures bind to calcium. These proteins are mostly involved in blood coagulation, although some are involved in blood vessel and bone metabolism. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables. In addition, much of the vitamin K is synthesized by bacteria in the colon.
General Causes of Bleeding Gums and Hematuria
There are two general causes of bleeding disorders. The first is connective tissue disease. Connective tissue provides strength and flexibility to tissues. Connective tissue diseases, as caused by genetic disorders, immune system dysfunction or nutrient deficiencies can lead to bleeding from mucous membranes such as the gums and urethra. The second cause is abnormalities with blood, specifically platelets or proteins. Vitamin K causes proteins involved in blood coagulation to malfunction.
Causes and Symptoms of Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K deficiency can be caused by nutritional deficiency, but this is relatively rare. More often it is caused by a damaged gastrointestinal tract that is unable to absorb the vitamin. For example, in inflammatory bowel disease, the intestines can become inflamed, disrupting nutrient absorption. In cystic fibrosis, a mutated protein causes mucus to build up and this causes symptoms in a number of organ systems; the GI tract may not absorb fats efficiently. Certain anticoagulants, such as warfarin, interfere with the action of vitamin K. Symptoms include easy bruising, red and blun dots from blood under the skin, prolonged bleeding, abdominal pain, joint pain from calcium build up in the connective tissue, blood vessel disease from calcium build up on the walls of the arteries and problems with bone development.
Treatment of Vitamin K Deficiency
The treatment of vitamin K deficiency is typically the administration of vitamin K. This can usually be oral or in pill form, unless a person has trouble swallowing or a GI problem preventing the absorption of vitamin K. In that case, vitamin K can be injected. Since a lack of vitamin K causes dysfunction of blood proteins, if a person is having uncontrolled bleeding from vitamin K deficiency, a transfusion of blood proteins can be given in addition to vitamin K.
References
- "Nutrition Concepts and Controversies"; Frances Sizer, Ellie Whitney; 11th Ed 2007
- "Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease"; Vinay Kumar et al; 8th Ed 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony S Fauci et al; 17th Ed 2008
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