What is deficiency of vitamin K called? Understanding Bleeding Risks

October 14, 2025 •

3 min read

In the United States, routine intramuscular administration of vitamin K has made vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in newborns an uncommon occurrence. For those concerned about nutrition diet, understanding what is deficiency of vitamin K called? is crucial, especially for newborns who don't receive prophylaxis and adults with certain health conditions.

Quick Summary

Vitamin K deficiency is a condition where the body lacks sufficient vitamin K, impairing blood clotting. In newborns, this is specifically named Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), leading to dangerous hemorrhage. In adults, it is a general deficiency linked to malabsorption or medication.

Key Points

VKDB in Newborns: The specific name for vitamin K deficiency in newborns is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding, or VKDB.
Adult Deficiency: There is no unique name for vitamin K deficiency in adults; it is simply referred to as such.
Bleeding Risks: The main danger of vitamin K deficiency is impaired blood clotting, which leads to uncontrolled bleeding, bruising, and potential hemorrhage.
Causes: Key causes include fat malabsorption disorders, certain medications, and dietary insufficiency in adults, while newborns have low innate stores and derive little vitamin K from breast milk.
Prevention: The most effective way to prevent VKDB in newborns is a prophylactic vitamin K injection at birth, while adults can prevent it by consuming a balanced diet rich in leafy greens.

What is deficiency of vitamin K called?

The specific name for vitamin K deficiency in infants is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), previously known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. This condition primarily affects newborns in their first few months due to low vitamin K levels at birth and poor transfer through breast milk. In adults, there isn't a unique medical term; it's simply called vitamin K deficiency or, in symptomatic cases, a 'bleeding tendency' or 'coagulopathy'.

The Critical Role of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin vital for synthesizing proteins necessary for blood clotting, such as prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X. These proteins are essential for effective blood coagulation. Vitamin K exists as K1 (phylloquinone) in green leafy vegetables and K2 (menaquinone), produced by gut bacteria and found in some fermented foods. Insufficient vitamin K impairs the production of these clotting factors, increasing bleeding risk.

Causes and Risk Factors

Vitamin K deficiency is rare in healthy adults but newborns are particularly vulnerable.

Causes in Adults

Causes in adults include malabsorption disorders like celiac disease or cystic fibrosis, long-term antibiotic use, anticoagulants like warfarin, very low-fat diets, and severe liver disease.

Causes in Newborns

Newborns have low vitamin K levels due to limited transfer across the placenta, a sterile gut lacking bacteria to produce K2, low levels in breast milk, and parental refusal of the standard vitamin K injection.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms differ between adults and infants.

Symptoms in Adults

Adult symptoms include easy bruising, excessive bleeding, blood under nails, blood in urine or stool, poor bone mineralization, and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Symptoms in Infants with VKDB

Symptoms of VKDB include unexplained bruising, bleeding from the umbilical cord or circumcision site, vomiting blood or dark stools, pale skin, and potentially life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis involves reviewing symptoms and medical history, and blood tests like prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) to measure clotting speed. Elevated PT/INR indicates impaired clotting.

Treatment depends on severity and age. Adults typically receive oral or subcutaneous vitamin K. Severe cases may require intravenous administration. Infants with VKDB receive immediate intravenous or subcutaneous vitamin K1, and severe bleeding may necessitate a blood transfusion.

Prevention and Dietary Sources

Prevention is crucial, especially for at-risk groups.

Prevention

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a single vitamin K injection at birth to prevent VKDB in newborns. Adults can prevent deficiency by eating a diet rich in vitamin K, treating malabsorption conditions, and careful monitoring on certain medications.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin K

Key dietary sources include green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, fermented foods like natto, vegetable oils (soybean, canola), and some meat and dairy products (cheese, eggs, liver).

Comparison: Vitamin K Deficiency in Infants vs. Adults


Feature	Infants (VKDB)	Adults (Deficiency)
Primary Cause	Low vitamin K transfer across placenta, sterile gut, low breast milk content	Malabsorption issues, dietary insufficiency, medications
Common Age	Primarily first 2-12 weeks of life (Late VKDB)	Can occur at any age, typically with underlying health issues
Specific Name	Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB)	No specific name, just 'vitamin K deficiency'
Symptoms	Bleeding from umbilical cord, circumcision site, nose; intracranial hemorrhage	Easy bruising, mucosal bleeding, blood in urine/stool
Most Serious Risk	Intracranial hemorrhage, potentially leading to brain damage or death	Life-threatening bleeding episodes, osteoporosis
Treatment	Vitamin K1 injection (IM or IV)	Oral, subcutaneous, or IV vitamin K supplementation
Prevention	Mandatory vitamin K injection at birth	Healthy diet, managing underlying health conditions

Conclusion

While adults experience 'vitamin K deficiency', infants can suffer from the more specifically named and dangerous Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). Vitamin K is crucial for blood clotting, and its deficiency, stemming from various causes in infants and adults, can result in uncontrolled bleeding. The severity in infants underscores the importance of preventative measures like the prophylactic injection at birth. Adults can largely prevent deficiency through a balanced diet. For further information, consult resources like the CDC.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common cause is the limited transfer of vitamin K across the placenta from mother to fetus, combined with low vitamin K levels in breast milk and a sterile gut that cannot produce its own K2.

No, vitamin K deficiency is rare in healthy adults because vitamin K is widely distributed in food, and gut bacteria synthesize some of it.

Main symptoms include easy bruising, excessive bleeding from cuts, nosebleeds, and gums, and blood in the urine or stool.

A deficiency is typically diagnosed by a doctor who will evaluate symptoms and medical history. Blood tests, such as prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR), are used to measure the blood's clotting ability.

The best sources include dark green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli. Other sources include some vegetable oils, eggs, cheese, and fermented soybeans.

VKDB is treated with a vitamin K1 injection, given either intravenously or subcutaneously. In severe cases with significant blood loss, a blood transfusion may also be necessary.

Yes, long-term use of certain antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria responsible for synthesizing vitamin K2, potentially leading to a deficiency.