Why Vitamin K Does Not Cross the Placenta and What That Means for Newborns
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4 min read
Newborn babies are born with critically low levels of vitamin K, largely because, unlike many other nutrients, vitamin K does not cross the placenta easily. This low level puts infants at risk for a serious and potentially life-threatening bleeding disorder known as Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). The placenta, a complex and essential organ, acts as a barrier that is difficult for this specific nutrient to pass through, even when maternal intake is sufficient.
