Normal levels of vitamin K are necessary for a healthy body, and have a key role in mediating the normal blood clotting process, as well as in making strong bones. This vitamin is soluble in fat, which means that extra vitamin K in the body is stored in fat. A vitamin K deficiency, although not common, can lead to severe health problems. Having your doctor check your vitamin K levels will ensure that you do not have a deficiency in this essential vitamin.
Low Vitamin K Levels
Lower than normal levels of vitamin K places can cause several vitamin K deficiency-related illnesses. Chief among these illnesses include excessive bleeding due to slow or absent blood clotting and osteoporosis. Vitamin K is necessary for the coagulation cascade, which is a successive protein signaling cascade that ultimately leads to the activation of the protein fibrin. Activated fibrin and platelets work together to form blood clots that stem bleeding. Calcium is needed for the development of strong bones, and vitamin K is required for the correct incorporation of calcium into bones.
Average Levels
The average levels of vitamin K differ based on age. Infants between 0 and 6 months-of-age and between 7 and 12 months-of-age should get 2 mcg per day and 2.5 mcg per day, respectively. Children between 1 and 3 years should get 30 mcg per day; those between 4 and 8 years should get 55 mcg per day; and those between 9 and 13 years should get 60 mcg per day. Adolescents between 14 and 18 years-of-age should get 75 mcg per day, and adults 19 years and older should get 90 mcg per day.
Food Sources
The best dietary sources of vitamin K are from raw leafy green vegetables, such as kale, spinach, green leaf lettuce, Swiss chard and parsley. Additionally, cauliflower, cabbage, soy beans and fortified cereals are also great sources of this vitamin. Interestingly, the normal bacterial that colonize the intestines can also produce vitamin K. Because newborn infants do not have any gut bacteria, they are sometimes in danger of low levels of vitamin K. Because of this danger, newborn infants are given vitamin K injections to prevent bleeding, especially in the brain. Eating enough dietary sources of vitamin K ensures that you can keep your vitamin K levels in a healthy range.
Causes of Low Vitamin K levels
Low levels of vitamin K are not common because of the wide availability of foods that provide this vitamin, as well as the production of vitamin K by bacteria in the intestine. However, certain diseases and medications make having low levels of vitamin K more likely. For example, taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin, which is a vitamin K antagonist, can deplete this vitamin. Additionally, some people have a congenital condition that prevents normal absorption of fat, which may lead to a vitamin K deficiency. Long-term use of antibiotics can also lead to low vitamin K levels.
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