Do I Have Vitamin K Deficiency?

Do you get bruises easily?

Do you often have nose bleeds?

Do you have bleeding gums?

Do you have an excessive bleeding from wounds (bleeding continues for longer than normal)?

Do you have a localized collection of blood in the tissues of the body outside of the blood vessels (hematoma) caused by an injury or around an injection or surgical sites?

Do you have small red or purple spots on your skin or conjunctiva (the tissue that lines the inside of your eyelids and covers the white of the eye)?

Do you have small blood clots underneath your nails?

If you are a woman, do you have heavy menstrual periods?

Have you ever vomited blood?

Do you have a dark stool (almost like a tar)?

Do you have a blood in the urine?

Have you ever break a bone after a minor fall or injury?

Do you have a liver disease or any of the following conditions: cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis or Crohns disease?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K is actually a group of fat-soluble vitamins that has an important role in coagulation, proper development of your bones and your heart health. There are two types of vitamin K: vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is found in green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach, collards, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus), soybeans, canola oils, and dairy products. Vitamin K1 is better absorbed when eaten with some fat. Vitamin K2 is a form that is produced in your body by good bacteria from the intestines. Also, your body can convert K1 into K2.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K represents a group of vitamins that are necessary for the coagulation or blood clotting. Coagulation is a process that prevents excessive bleeding in your body. For healthy adults, the recommended daily intake of vitamin K is 120 and 90 mcg a day for men and women, respectively. Vitamin K deficiency is usually caused by insufficient dietary intake or inadequate absorption due to a certain chronic illness. Some drugs, including anti-seizure medications or antibiotics can negatively affect the absorption of vitamin K. Your doctor will order blood tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a vitamin K deficiency. “Vitamin K” is the name for a family of substances that are necessary for the blood clotting and the health of your bones and heart. The main characteristic of vitamin K deficiency is significant bleeding due to the inability to form blood clots. Diagnosing vitamin K deficiency is based on your medical history and a blood test called a prothrombin time test. Treatment involves supplementation with pills or injections. If a drug causes vitamin K deficiency, then the dose of that drug must be adjusted. Please consult your doctor about your symptoms.