Recognize The Symptoms And Causes Of Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that help the human body to complete synthesis of certain proteins that are essential for blood coagulation (the prevention of excessive bleeding internally and externally) and important to control binding of calcium in bones and other tissues. The “K” comes from the German word for blood clotting, “koagulation”. Blood clotting or coagulation
According to Medical News Today, vitamin K comes in two forms. The first type is known as vitamin K-1 or phylloquinone which can be found in plants, such as spinach and kale. Whereas, the second type is known as vitamin K-2 or menaquinone and can be created naturally in the intestinal tract.
There are two main kinds of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) comes from plants, especially leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is naturally created in the intestinal tract and works similarly to K1.
Most adults obtain an adequate amount of this vitamin through nutrition and their body. However, certain medical conditions and medications can lead to vitamin K deficiency.
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Causes of Vitamin K Deficiency
Although vitamin K deficiency is not very common in adults, these are some of the causes which might lead to vitamin K deficiency:
– not getting enough vitamin K from the food
– taking high doses of vitamin A or E
– taking anticoagulants that prevent blood clots but inhibit vitamin K activation and thin the blood
– taking antibiotics that interfere with vitamin K production and absorption
– cystic fibrosis
– celiac disease
– dialysis treatment
– cancer
– an intestinal or biliary tract (liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts) disorder
However, vitamin K deficiency is much more common in infants, and some of the reasons include:
– vitamin K does not transfer well from a mother’s placenta to her baby
– drinking breast milk that is low in vitamin K
– a newborn baby’s liver is unable to use vitamin K efficiently
– a newborn’s gut is incapable to produce vitamin K-2 in the first few days of life
Symptoms of Vitamin K Deficiency
There are many symptoms which are related to vitamin K deficiency, but the main one is excessive bleeding. But, this sign cannot be noticed until a person is cut or wounded. So, there are additional signs associated with vitamin K deficiency which include:
– bruising easily
– heavy menstrual periods
– bleeding while urinating
– bleeding from the mucous membranes that line areas inside the body
– small blood clots appearing under the nails
– stool that is dark black, tar-like, or contains blood
Meanwhile, vitamin K deficiency symptoms in newborn babies and infants are as follows:
– bleeding from the area where the umbilical cord is removed
– bleeding from the nose, the gastrointestinal tract, skin, or at the penis if the baby has been circumcised
– sudden bleeding in the brain, which might be life-threatening
Diagnosis
When experiencing unexpected or excessive bleeding or some of the above-mentioned symptoms, a prothrombin time (PT/INR) is the main laboratory test that investigates the bleeding. This test uses your blood in which chemicals are added to be observed how long it takes to clot. If it takes longer than 13.5 seconds, the doctor may suspect a vitamin K deficiency.
Other coagulation tests may be performed when a person is experiencing symptoms of excessive bleeding and bruising, such as partial thromboplastin time (PTT), platelet count, platelet function tests, thrombin time, coagulation factor tests, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and d-dimer.
Treatment of Vitamin K Deficiency
Short-term treatment for vitamin K deficiency usually involves either oral supplementation or injections. People who have underlying chronic conditions may need long-term or lifetime supplementation. The action of vitamin K usually requires 2 to 5 days after it is taken to show effect.
So, if a person is diagnosed with vitamin K deficiency, they will be treated with a vitamin K supplement called phytonadione, which is vitamin K1. Usually, doctors prescribe phytonadione as an oral medication, though it can also be given as an injection under the skin.
The dosage depends on the age and general health. For adults, the usual dose ranges from 1 to 25 milligrams (mg).
The doctor needs also to consider whether a person is taking anticoagulants, as they can interact with vitamin K.
If the deficiency develops due to malnutrition, you will have to eat more of the foods listed below:
– green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, collards, turnip greens, Swiss chard, parsley, mustard greens, romaine, and green leaf lettuce
– vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage
– fish, meat, liver, eggs, and cereals
Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained are strictly for informational purposes only. The Content is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please ALWAYS seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.
Read also: Vitamin C Deficiency: Symptoms, Prevention, And Treatment