Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps blood clot. It may also help older people maintain strong bones. A vitamin K deficiency, which is rare, may cause bleeding problems. In the United States and many other countries, the vitamin is given to newborns to prevent a deficiency and serious bleeding problems because babies are born without the ability to produce vitamin K. Vitamin K does not cause or treat infections; however, some antibiotics taken long-term for an infection might lead to a deficiency.
Sources
A vitamin K deficiency is rare because vitamin K is found in many foods that are part of a healthy diet and is made by bacteria in the intestines. Foods that contain vitamin K include cabbage, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables like spinach, cereals and soybeans. Multivitamins contain vitamin K, and you can get supplements in various forms if necessary.
Daily Dose
Your recommended daily vitamin K allowance depends on your age, gender and other health factors like pregnancy. Eating a well-balanced diet is the best way to get all of your necessary vitamins, including vitamin K. If you have certain malabsorption conditions like Crohn's disease, you may have a vitamin K deficiency, which requires medical intervention. For example, your doctor may give you a vitamin K injection to boost levels. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, normal daily vitamin K intake is 120 mcg for adult males and 90 mcg for adult females.
Deficiency and Infection
The only situation in which infection and vitamin K cross paths is during long-term use -- more than 10 days -- of antibiotics taken for some sort of infection. Certain antibiotics kill the bacteria in the intestines that make vitamin K and may lead to a deficiency. A class of antibiotics called cephalosporins is most likely to interact with vitamin K, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you are taking antibiotics, talk to your doctor about the possibility of needing a vitamin K supplement.
Osteoporosis
Studies are ongoing to determine the usefulness of vitamin K in preventing or delaying the onset of osteoporosis. Researchers are looking at the usefulness of vitamin K as a bone-strengthening agent in other populations as well. There is no direct link between osteoporosis and infection, though strong, healthy bones and the ability to be completely mobile may enhance an individual's ability to remain healthy.
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