Vitamin K will not prevent bruising, but it will help your body stop the bleeding if you break blood vessels under your skin from a direct impact. However, if you lack vitamin K in your diet, you may bleed and bruise easier. This is due to the fact that your body uses vitamin K in the process that clots your blood.
What Is a Bruise?
A bruise is a collection of blood that is trapped beneath your skin. The blood enters the skin when a direct impact breaks the capillaries and other blood vessels that supply your skin. A bruise can last anywhere from two weeks to several months, according to MedlinePlus. If you want to reduce the bruising, you must ice the injured area and elevate it above your heart. This will help dissipate the blood from the injured area.
How Is Vitamin K Involved?
When you break your blood vessels, a series of events takes place in your body called the coagulation cascade. This cascade involves enzymes and proteins, which form the material needed to clot your blood. Vitamin K is used by your body to create four of the 13 proteins that are essential to this process. Without vitamin K in ample amounts, your body would not be able to clot your blood and you could die.
How Much Vitamin K Do You Need?
Some vitamin K is produced naturally by the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. However, this amount is not enough to supply your body with everything that you need. Therefore, you need to consume the rest through food. Good sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, dark berries, fish, liver, meat, eggs and fortified cereals. If you do not consume enough, you will be more likely to bleed and bruise easier. Vitamin K can decrease the amount of bruising that you have, but it does not prevent bruising that results from true tissue damage. The Institute of Medicine's current recommended daily adult intake is 120 mcg for men and 90 mcg for women.
Considerations
If you are on blood thinners, then you are more likely to bruise from minor injuries. Vitamin K can interfere with this medication and should be avoided in large doses. If you take coumadin or other anticoagulant medications, talk to your doctor about what types of foods you should include in your diet and be sure to follow the instructions on your medication. If you fail to do so, your bruise could turn deadly.
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