Which Disease Is Caused by Vitamin K Deficiency? The Bleeding Disorders

October 4, 2025 •

5 min read

Worldwide, vitamin K deficiency causes significant infant morbidity and mortality due to bleeding complications. So, which disease is caused by vitamin K deficiency? The most recognized and serious condition is a potentially life-threatening bleeding disorder known as Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), particularly in newborns.

Quick Summary

Vitamin K deficiency impairs the body's blood-clotting ability, leading to excessive and uncontrolled bleeding. The primary consequence is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a condition predominantly affecting newborns and potentially causing severe, life-threatening hemorrhage.

Key Points

VKDB is a Critical Risk: The most severe consequence is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a life-threatening condition primarily affecting newborns.
Impaired Blood Clotting: Vitamin K deficiency prevents the body from producing essential blood-clotting factors, leading to uncontrolled hemorrhage.
Newborns are Most Vulnerable: Infants are at high risk due to poor placental transfer, low vitamin K in breast milk, and a sterile gut.
Adult Risk Factors: Malabsorption disorders, prolonged antibiotic use, and anticoagulant medications significantly increase the risk of deficiency in adults.
Beyond Bleeding: Long-term deficiency also negatively impacts bone health, potentially leading to osteoporosis and increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Prevention is Simple: The condition is easily preventable with a prophylactic vitamin K injection for newborns and a balanced, vitamin K-rich diet for adults.
Diagnosis is Key: Blood tests measuring clotting time, such as INR, can confirm a vitamin K deficiency and guide appropriate treatment.

The Crucial Role of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin vital for synthesizing several proteins necessary for blood coagulation, bone metabolism, and overall cardiovascular health. These include clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X, which are produced in the liver. Without sufficient vitamin K, these clotting factors cannot be activated, leading to defective coagulation. While dietary deficiency is rare in healthy adults with a balanced diet and functioning gut bacteria, it presents a significant risk in vulnerable populations, especially newborns.

What is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB)?

Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), formerly known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, is the most critical disease resulting from insufficient vitamin K levels. It is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not treated promptly. VKDB is classified into three types based on the timing of onset after birth:

Early VKDB: Occurs within the first 24 hours of birth. This form is often severe and linked to the mother using certain medications during pregnancy that interfere with vitamin K metabolism, such as some seizure medications or antibiotics.
Classic VKDB: Develops between two days and one week of birth. Symptoms are typically less severe, involving bleeding from the umbilical cord, circumcision site, or bruising.
Late VKDB: Appears between one week and six months of age, most commonly in exclusively breastfed infants who did not receive the prophylactic vitamin K shot at birth. Late VKDB frequently presents with serious intracranial bleeding, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates.

Symptoms and Signs of a Deficiency

Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency can vary based on age and severity. In adults, the deficiency may present with subtler signs initially, while in newborns, the symptoms of VKDB can be dramatic and life-threatening.

Symptoms in Newborns

Excessive bleeding from the umbilical cord or circumcision.
Easy and severe bruising, especially around the head and face.
Bleeding from the nose or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Stool that is bloody, dark, and sticky.
Pale skin or gums.
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) after the first few weeks of life.
Irritability, excessive sleepiness, vomiting, or seizures, which can indicate intracranial hemorrhage.

Symptoms in Adults

Easy bruising.
Bleeding from the gums or nose.
Oozing from surgical sites or puncture wounds.
Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia).
Blood in the urine or stool.
Increased risk of poor bone development and osteoporosis.

Causes and Risk Factors

While rare in healthy adults, several factors can increase the risk of vitamin K deficiency:

Malabsorption Disorders: Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin K.
Medications: Certain drugs can interfere with vitamin K metabolism. These include prolonged courses of antibiotics that destroy the gut bacteria responsible for producing vitamin K2, as well as blood-thinning medications like warfarin that block the vitamin's action.
Liver Disease: Since the liver is responsible for producing most of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, severe liver disease can impair their synthesis and lead to deficiency.
Poor Diet: Inadequate intake of vitamin K-rich foods, particularly leafy greens, can cause deficiency, especially in malnourished individuals.
Infant-Specific Factors: Newborns are especially vulnerable due to minimal placental transfer of vitamin K, low levels in breast milk, and a sterile gut that has not yet developed the bacteria to produce vitamin K2.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin K Deficiency

Diagnosis typically begins with a physical examination and a review of the patient's medical history for risk factors. It is confirmed with a blood test that measures the blood's clotting ability.

Diagnosis: The prothrombin time (PT) test, reported as an international normalized ratio (INR), is used to measure how long it takes blood to clot. A prolonged PT/elevated INR is a key indicator of vitamin K deficiency.
Treatment: The standard treatment involves administering a vitamin K supplement, phytonadione (vitamin K1). In adults, it can be given orally or via subcutaneous injection, with dosage adjusted based on severity. In newborns, a single intramuscular vitamin K injection given shortly after birth is the recommended prophylactic treatment to prevent VKDB. In severe bleeding cases, blood transfusions may also be necessary.

Prevention through Diet

Ensuring adequate vitamin K intake is the most effective way to prevent deficiency in adults. For newborns, the standard prophylactic injection is critical.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin K

Green Leafy Vegetables: Spinach, kale, broccoli, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, and romaine lettuce are excellent sources of Vitamin K1.
Fermented Foods: Natto (fermented soybeans), cheeses (especially hard cheeses like Gouda), and sauerkraut are rich in Vitamin K2.
Animal Products: Eggs, meat (particularly chicken), and liver contain some Vitamin K2.
Other Sources: Vegetable oils (canola and soybean oil), blueberries, and avocados also contain vitamin K.

Since vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, its absorption is enhanced when consumed with some dietary fat.

Vitamin K1 vs. Vitamin K2: A Comparison

Although both are forms of vitamin K, they differ in their sources, absorption, and primary functions.


Feature	Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone)	Vitamin K2 (Menaquinones)
Source	Primarily plant-based foods, such as leafy green vegetables.	Produced by gut bacteria and found in fermented foods, animal products, and dairy.
Absorption	Absorbed less efficiently, with typically less than 10% absorbed from plants.	Generally better absorbed due to often being present in fat-containing foods.
Circulation Time	Rapidly removed from the bloodstream, with a shorter half-life.	Circulates longer in the blood, potentially for several days, allowing for wider tissue distribution.
Primary Role	Retained by the liver to assist with the synthesis of clotting factors.	Redistributed to extra-hepatic tissues like bone and vasculature, influencing bone and heart health.

Other Health Consequences of Vitamin K Deficiency

Beyond bleeding disorders, insufficient vitamin K can lead to long-term health issues.

Bone Health: Vitamin K is necessary for activating proteins like osteocalcin, which play a critical role in bone mineralization. A deficiency can lead to decreased bone mineral density and an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Cardiovascular Health: Some evidence suggests a link between vitamin K deficiency and increased cardiovascular risk. Vitamin K activates Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which helps inhibit arterial calcification. A deficiency may therefore contribute to arterial stiffness and heart disease.

Conclusion

Vitamin K deficiency is a serious condition, especially for newborns, where it can result in life-threatening Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). While rare in healthy adults, those with risk factors like malabsorption disorders, liver disease, or those taking specific medications should be vigilant. The cornerstone of treatment involves timely vitamin K supplementation, and prevention relies on a nutritious diet rich in leafy greens and other sources. For newborns, the standard prophylactic vitamin K injection is a simple yet crucial preventive measure against a devastating bleeding disorder. Staying informed about which disease is caused by vitamin K deficiency? empowers both patients and healthcare providers to take proactive steps toward prevention and early intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most significant disease caused by vitamin K deficiency is Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a disorder that impairs blood clotting and can cause severe, uncontrolled bleeding, particularly in newborns and infants.

Newborns are susceptible because vitamin K does not cross the placenta well, their gut is not yet colonized with bacteria that produce vitamin K, and breast milk is low in vitamin K. This leaves them with insufficient stores to activate clotting factors.

Symptoms of VKDB include easy bruising, bleeding from the nose or umbilical cord, bloody or dark, tarry stools, and paleness. In severe cases, bleeding into the brain (intracranial hemorrhage) can cause lethargy, seizures, or vomiting.

While rare in healthy adults, deficiency can be caused by fat malabsorption disorders (like celiac disease or cystic fibrosis), long-term antibiotic use that disrupts gut flora, liver disease, or taking certain anticoagulant medications.

Treatment involves administering vitamin K supplements, often in the form of phytonadione (vitamin K1). The method depends on the severity and can be oral, subcutaneous, or intravenous. For severe bleeding, fresh frozen plasma may also be given.

Yes, a long-term deficiency of vitamin K is associated with reduced bone mineralization, which can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures. This is because vitamin K is needed to activate bone-related proteins like osteocalcin.

Adults can prevent deficiency by consuming a balanced diet rich in leafy green vegetables (K1) and fermented foods (K2). To prevent VKDB, all newborns should receive a prophylactic vitamin K injection shortly after birth, as recommended by medical guidelines.