Vitamin K deficiency

Vitamin K deficiency is one of the hypovitaminoses. However, it rarely occurs.

What is Vitamin K Deficiency?

Of a Vitamin K deficiency is the talk when insufficient vitamin K is produced by the intestinal bacteria or ingested with food. The cause of the deficiency symptoms are usually certain diseases or a poor diet. A vitamin K deficiency can also occur in babies because their intestinal flora is not yet sufficiently developed and therefore cannot produce enough vitamin K.

The mother's milk also only has small amounts of vitamin K. For this reason, the newborn children receive additional vitamin K. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in regulating human blood clotting. It is also important for the mineralization of bones. The majority of vitamin K can be covered with green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce and spinach.

It is also found in chicken, wheat germ and sunflower oil. In addition, the vitamin is made in the body by the intestinal bacteria. The daily vitamin K requirement of adults is between 0.03 and 1.5 µg per kilogram of body weight. In children, the daily requirement is greater at 10 µg per kilo.

causes

A deficiency in vitamin K is mostly caused by intestinal diseases. This means that the absorption of the vitamin no longer functions properly. The intestine is no longer able to absorb the vitamin from food, which leads to deficiency symptoms.

In some cases, antibiotic treatment can also be responsible for a vitamin K deficiency. There is a risk that the intestinal bacteria will be affected by some antibiotics. In addition, the functions of the vitamin can also be disturbed by the antibiotic agents.

Other possible causes of a vitamin K deficiency are liver diseases that damage liver tissue, thinning of the blood due to the use of certain medications, or malnutrition. Other illnesses that can be responsible for a deficiency in vitamin K include prolonged alcohol abuse, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cancer, or a lack of calcium.

A vitamin K deficiency can have fatal effects, especially on infants, as even minor deviations in vitamin K intake can have serious consequences for the health of the child concerned.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

A deficiency in vitamin K causes impairment of the human blood clotting system. Above a certain concentration there is a risk of spontaneous bleeding. In the event of injuries, there can even be significant blood loss. But even without external violence, heavy bleeding in all organs and tissues is possible. The bleeding is noticeable through pronounced bruises on the skin. Bleeding in the brain is also possible.

Doctors call babies' symptoms of vitamin K deficiency neonatorum haemorrhagic disease, which means an increased tendency to bleed. In infants, bleeding occurs primarily in the intestines, liver, lungs, abdomen, skin, mucous membrane and brain and varies in intensity. In addition, a vitamin K deficiency leads to a decrease in bone density. This increases the risk of bone fractures.

Diagnosis & course of disease

If a vitamin K deficiency is suspected, a doctor should be consulted. The doctor checks any changes that may arise from the deficiency symptoms. He also asks about food habits and possible previous illnesses that cause a vitamin K deficiency.

In addition, the doctor will do a thorough physical exam. A blood sample is taken to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor records the time during which the blood coagulates. If the clotting time increases, this is an indication of a vitamin K deficiency. As the process progresses, the doctor tries to find out the reason for the lack of vitamin K, for which he carries out further investigations.

It is also important to check for any additional symptoms of deficiency. If the vitamin K deficiency is compensated for by appropriate treatment, the disease usually takes a positive course. Without treatment, however, the vitamin K deficiency in babies can be life-threatening.

Complications

A vitamin K deficiency mainly affects blood clotting. People with K-hypovitaminosis get bruises, nosebleeds, or gum injuries faster. Mainly on the joints there are bruises and the associated pain and tenderness. In the long term, this can also lead to adhesions, scars and impaired sensitivity.

An incipient deficiency also causes poor concentration and lack of drive. The susceptibility to infections may also be increased, as well as pronounced fatigue and persistent headaches. Serious complications occur with internal bleeding such as stomach and intestinal ulcers or injuries. This can lead to anemia and, in the worst case, bleeding to death.

Internal bleeding can occur without a cause in K-hypovitaminosis. Due to the disturbed blood clotting, the smallest internal injuries then occur, which initially cause pain and can develop into serious complications if the deficiency persists. Taking vitamin K supplements can cause side effects.

Some people complain of symptoms of poisoning, others experience stomach pains, migraines and other complaints. Corresponding complications are to be expected especially with uncontrolled use of these agents. If the K vitamins are administered intravenously, there is a risk of infections, tissue injuries and wound healing disorders after the infusion bag has been removed.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you have a vitamin K deficiency, you should always consult a doctor. The earlier the disease is diagnosed and treatment is initiated, the better the further course is usually, as this disease cannot heal itself. The person concerned should therefore contact a doctor at the first symptoms and signs in order to prevent further complications.

In the event of a vitamin K deficiency, a doctor should be consulted if the person concerned is severely impaired in blood clotting. Even minor cuts and injuries lead to severe blood loss, as the bleeding often does not stop.

This can also lead to bleeding under the skin, which can indicate a vitamin K deficiency. This deficiency also greatly increases the risk of bone fractures. If the person concerned is injured frequently and often has broken bones, a doctor should also be consulted. As a rule, the vitamin K deficiency can be recognized by a general practitioner. Further treatment is then carried out by taking medication that permanently alleviates the symptoms. The person concerned should, however, point out the vitamin K deficiency to the attending physicians, so that excessive bleeding does not occur during examinations or when the blood is normally taken off.

Therapy & Treatment

Treatment of a deficiency in vitamin K depends on the underlying cause, which should always be combated. If, for example, intestinal diseases or liver diseases are responsible for the deficiency, the patients are given appropriate medication. In addition, the patient is given a sufficient amount of vitamin K until the deficiency is corrected.

The vitamin is absorbed either through food or with vitamin preparations. In severe cases, injections of vitamin K are also possible. If there are other deficiency symptoms, these must also be treated accordingly. In the event that blood thinning with medication triggers the vitamin K deficiency, the blood thinning medication is adjusted accordingly.

If the lack of vitamin K causes profuse bleeding, the affected person is given activated blood coagulation substances that are supplied to them through the vein. This will stop the bleeding and restore blood clotting to normal.

prevention

So that babies do not develop a vitamin K deficiency in the first place, the newborn children in many countries are given vitamin K systematically as early as their first weeks of life. This procedure is very important because it is not easy for them to get an adequate supply of the vitamin and there is a risk of significant health impairments due to a deficiency.

Aftercare

After a vitamin K deficiency has been remedied, a healthy diet rich in vitamin K should be observed. Vitamin K1 is mainly found in green vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli) and vitamin K2 in meat, eggs and dairy products. Since it is not possible for adults to be poisoned with vitamin K, these foods should be eaten in abundance even after the vitamin K deficiency has been corrected. In this way a renewed vitamin K deficiency can be avoided.

When taking blood clots, however, care must be taken to ensure that the blood does not become too thick. Otherwise cardiovascular diseases can be the result. In addition, regular checks of the Quick and INR values ​​in the blood should be carried out in order to be able to detect a renewed vitamin K deficiency at an early stage. These tests can be done at home with blood monitors available from pharmacies by prescription.

However, if you measure poor blood values, you must visit the doctor again. In addition, especially if drugs are taken to increase the coagulation function of the blood, major check-ups should be carried out at regular intervals by the family doctor and, if necessary, a specialist. In addition, patients should be aware of their tendency to bleed. If this is increased, another vitamin K deficiency can be the cause.

You can do that yourself

A vitamin K deficiency can be remedied with medication and a change in diet. A sufficient amount of vitamin K can be found in foods such as chives, spinach, veal liver and quark, for example. Affected people should also drink plenty of fluids and generally eat a balanced diet to stimulate their metabolism.

If the deficiency persists, the doctor must be consulted. Typical symptoms such as fractures or persistent exhaustion indicate a severe vitamin deficiency. The doctor must clarify the cause and, if necessary, prescribe a suitable dietary supplement. Regular intake should reduce the deficiency by itself.

Since a vitamin K deficiency usually results from a disease, it must first be treated. Therapy is necessary for alcoholism. Those affected should also contact a specialist who can prescribe effective supplements for them, as there is usually not only a vitamin K deficiency, but also a mineral and general vitamin deficiency. The intake of supplements or large quantities of the mentioned foods should be done in consultation with the general practitioner or an internist. Otherwise, an overdose can occur, which is associated with various complications.