Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps your blood to clot, while also playing a role in bone health. It is rare for people to be deficient in vitamin K, as a bacteria in your intestines produce it. Vitamin K is also in a variety of leafy greens. Although deficiency is rare, there are daily intake recommendations for vitamin K.
Adult Vitamin K Needs
Adult men aged 19 and older need 120 mcg of vitamin K daily. Women of this age need 90 mcg, whether or not they are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Children's Vitamin K Needs
From birth to 6 months of age, newborns need 2 mcg per day, and doctors also give a single injection of vitamin K at birth. Infants from 7 to 12 months need 2.5 mcg, while toddlers between 1 and 3 years of age need 30 mcg. Kids ages 4 to 8 need 55 mcg, while those 9 to 13 need 60 mcg. Teens between 14 and 18 need 75 mcg.
Deficiency Risk
A variety of conditions can increase your risk of being deficient in vitamin K. Cystic fibrosis, celiac and Chron's diseases, as well as gallbladder disease, can prevent your body from properly absorbing vitamin K. If you have a malabsorption condition, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that you will most benefit from a multivitamin containing vitamin K compared to an individual vitamin K supplement. Furthermore, certain antibiotics can kill some of the bacteria that produce vitamin K, leading to a mild deficiency. The best way to fulfill your daily vitamin requirements is through a balanced diet, but check with your doctor or health care provider if you think vitamin K supplements are for you.
Dosing
Your doctor may prescribe one of two different forms of vitamin K: menadiol or phytonadione. Depending on your condition and your doctor's orders, you may take a different amount of vitamin K. Follow your doctor's orders, and ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you. The average dose for menadiol, when prescribed for either blood clotting problems, bleeding issues or dietary supplementation is 5 to 10 mg daily, when given in tablet form. For phytonadione, also in tablet form, the usual dose is 2.5 to 25 mg per day, usually to help with blood clotting or increased bleeding.
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