Vitamin K is one of the essential fat-soluble vitamins, obtained primarily from foods but also produced by bacteria in your intestinal tract. Adult deficiency of vitamin K is uncommon, with newborns at much greater risk. Deficiency states lead to abnormal bleeding, and possibly long term effects on bone density.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is important in the production of several blood clotting factors by your liver. These factors are necessary for normal clotting in response to injury, and inadequate levels can lead to abnormal bleeding even without an injury. The normal bacteria found in your intestines produce some vitamin K, but not enough to replace the vitamin supplied from food sources. Dietary deficiency alone is uncommon given vitamin K's availability in a broad variety of foods. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing a deficiency include liver disease, biliary tract disease, fat malabsorption, and various drugs including coumadin, some antibiotics and orlistat, according to PatientPlus.
Deficiency in Infants
Newborns and infants are at particular risk for vitamin K deficiency, and can develop life-threatening bleeding in the first weeks of life. The limited ability of the placenta to transport vitamin K during fetal development, an immature liver and the lack of intestinal bacteria at birth all contribute to the newborn's risk. Bleeding typically occurs within the first few days, and can involve the skin, intestines, nose, gums and needle puncture sites. More serious is bleeding in or around the brain, with permanent disability or death possible. Bleeding can also appear several weeks later if a baby has malabsorption problems, liver disease or is breastfed, as breast milk is low in vitamin K. For these reasons, it is recommended that all newborns receive a dose of vitamin K within six hours of birth, according to the Merck Manual.
Deficiency in Adults
The main sign of vitamin K deficiency in adults is bleeding, often associated with blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin that act by blocking vitamin K's normal activity in the liver. Early deficiency might be detected by laboratory testing only, or clinically by the appearance of easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or heavy menstrual periods. More severe life-threatening symptoms include gastrointestinal bleeding and intracranial bleeding in or around the brain. Accumulating evidence also suggests chronic vitamin K deficiency might lead to lower bone density and an increased risk of fractures, according to Lab Tests Online.
Diagnosis and Treatment in Adults
Abnormal bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency must be differentiated from a variety of other bleeding disorders. A blood test called the prothrombin time, or PT, is typically prolonged in vitamin K deficiency, and should return to normal when supplemental vitamin K is given. Treatment depends on the extent of bleeding and underlying cause of deficiency, but consists of vitamin K replacement either by mouth or a variety of injection methods. With life-threatening bleeding, transfusions of fresh frozen plasma can be used to immediately replace the missing clotting factors. If vitamin K deficiency is recognized and treated early, recovery should be rapid and the prognosis very good.
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