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How to Use Vitamin K for Liver Cirrhosis

Apr 30, 2011 | By Camira Bailey
How to Use Vitamin K for Liver Cirrhosis
Photo Credit Jeffrey Hamilton/Lifesize/Getty Images

It is common to experience a vitamin K deficiency in the event stages of cirrhosis of the liver due to portal hypertension. A vitamin K deficiency will make it more difficult for your body to get blood to clot. This can lead to serious problems, such as spontaneous internal bleeding. Treatment with vitamin K will reduce your risk of developing such a problem. Vitamin K may also prevent you from developing hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of cancer that commonly develops in cirrhosis sufferers, according to researchers at the Nara Medical University in Japan. Consult your doctor before taking vitamin K.

Step 1

Take 45,000 µg of vitamin K-2 orally every day to protect yourself against hepatic cancer. Ask your doctor about taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with vitamin K-2 for maximum benefit.

Step 2

Get your prothrombin time checked weekly. You will need to go to your doctor's office and have blood drawn. Your doctor will give you the results. An impaired prothrombin time indicates a need for additional supplementation.

Step 3

Take 10 mg of vitamin K-1 by subcutaneous or intravenous injection if your prothrombin time is impaired. Your doctor may teach you how to inject yourself; otherwise, he will do it for you.

Step 4

Recheck your prothrombin time between 24 and 48 hours after the injection. If it is improved, maintain a schedule of monthly vitamin K injections. Consult your doctor for other dosing or treatment options if your prothrombin time does not respond to the vitamin K injection.

Things You'll Need

  • Syringe
  • Needle

References

Article reviewed by Chuck Goldberg Last updated on: Apr 30, 2011

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