Which vitamin deficiency causes bleeding disease? A look at nutrition and blood health

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), newborns are at risk for a serious bleeding condition called Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) if they do not receive a Vitamin K injection at birth. So, which vitamin deficiency causes bleeding disease? While Vitamin K is the most well-known, a lack of Vitamin C can also lead to significant bleeding problems.

Quick Summary

Several vitamin deficiencies, most notably Vitamin K and Vitamin C, can cause bleeding disorders by disrupting the body's clotting ability and weakening blood vessel walls. Understanding the distinct roles of these vitamins and their dietary sources is key to preventing these health issues.

Key Points

Primary Cause: Vitamin K deficiency directly causes bleeding by impairing the synthesis of vital blood-clotting factors in the liver.
Vessel Health: A lack of Vitamin C leads to scurvy, which causes bleeding by weakening blood vessel walls due to poor collagen synthesis.
Key Symptoms: While both can cause easy bruising, Vitamin K deficiency presents with excessive bleeding, while Vitamin C deficiency is known for bleeding gums and poor wound healing.
High-Risk Groups: Newborns are particularly vulnerable to Vitamin K deficiency, while scurvy is a risk for individuals with severe malnutrition.
Dietary Solutions: Consuming a balanced diet rich in leafy greens (for Vitamin K) and fresh fruits and vegetables (for Vitamin C) is the most effective way to prevent deficiencies.
Medical Attention: If you experience unexplained bleeding or bruising, a healthcare provider can diagnose the deficiency through blood tests and recommend appropriate treatment.

The Critical Role of Vitamins in Blood Health

Proper blood coagulation and vessel integrity are crucial bodily functions that depend on a delicate balance of proteins and nutrients. When this balance is disrupted due to a nutritional deficit, the consequences can include a tendency to bleed or bruise easily. While genetic disorders like hemophilia receive significant attention, dietary deficiencies are also important culprits. The two vitamins most closely linked to bleeding diseases are Vitamin K and Vitamin C.

Vitamin K: The Coagulation Commander

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for producing specific proteins, known as clotting factors, that regulate blood coagulation. In the liver, Vitamin K acts as a cofactor for an enzyme that activates clotting factors II (prothrombin), VII, IX, and X. Without sufficient Vitamin K, these proteins cannot mature and function correctly, leading to a compromised coagulation cascade. This impaired process can result in excessive bleeding from wounds, easy bruising, and internal bleeding.

Risk Factors for Vitamin K Deficiency

While uncommon in healthy adults, Vitamin K deficiency is a concern in several populations:

Newborns: Infants are born with very low levels of Vitamin K because it does not cross the placenta well. This makes them particularly susceptible to Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), formerly known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. A prophylactic Vitamin K injection is standard practice to prevent this. Breast milk also contains very low amounts of Vitamin K.
Individuals with Malabsorption Disorders: Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, or Crohn's disease can prevent the body from properly absorbing fats, and thus, fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin K.
Chronic Liver Disease: Since clotting factors are produced in the liver, severe liver disease can impair their synthesis, regardless of Vitamin K status.
Medication Use: Long-term use of certain antibiotics or anticoagulant medications like warfarin can interfere with Vitamin K metabolism.

Vitamin C: The Vessel Stabilizer

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in synthesizing collagen, the body's most abundant protein. Collagen is a vital component of connective tissues, including the walls of our blood vessels. Without adequate Vitamin C, the collagen produced is unstable and weak, leading to fragile, leaky blood vessels. This condition is historically known as scurvy.

Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy)

Bleeding gums are a hallmark symptom of scurvy, often accompanied by tooth loss. Other common signs include:

Easy bruising
Poor wound healing
Small red spots on the skin (petechiae)
Joint and muscle pain
Fatigue and weakness

Scurvy is rare in modern society but can still occur in individuals with poor dietary habits, eating disorders, or certain health conditions that limit their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies

To help identify a potential nutritional issue, it is useful to recognize the distinct symptoms associated with these deficiencies. While both can cause bleeding, the presentation differs.

Signs of Vitamin K Deficiency
- Excessive bleeding from cuts, injections, or surgical sites
- Easy and prominent bruising
- Small, red spots under the skin (petechiae)
- Blood in the urine or stool
- Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
- Internal bleeding
Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency
- Bleeding and swollen gums
- Slow-healing wounds
- Small hemorrhages in the hair follicles
- Fatigue and irritability
- Joint pain
- Rough, dry skin

Comparing Vitamin K and Vitamin C Deficiencies


Feature	Vitamin K Deficiency	Vitamin C Deficiency
Primary Function	Synthesizes blood clotting factors in the liver.	Synthesizes collagen for strong blood vessel walls.
Bleeding Mechanism	Impaired coagulation cascade leads to poor clot formation.	Weakened blood vessel walls become leaky and rupture easily.
Typical Symptoms	Easy bruising, excessive bleeding, petechiae, internal bleeding.	Bleeding gums, easy bruising, poor wound healing, joint pain.
Major Risk Groups	Newborns, individuals with fat malabsorption disorders, those on certain medications.	Individuals with severely restricted diets lacking fresh produce (scurvy).
Dietary Sources	Leafy greens (kale, spinach), vegetable oils, some fermented foods.	Citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, berries.

Boosting Your Intake: Dietary Sources

Preventing these deficiencies is as simple as maintaining a varied and balanced diet. Both vitamins are widely available in common foods.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin K (K1 and K2):

Green leafy vegetables: Kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, and lettuce are excellent sources of Vitamin K1.
Vegetable oils: Soybean and canola oil contain Vitamin K1.
Fermented foods: Natto (fermented soybeans) is a particularly rich source of Vitamin K2.
Other foods: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, meat, eggs, and cheese also provide varying amounts of Vitamin K.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin C:

Citrus fruits: Oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
Vegetables: Bell peppers (especially red and green), broccoli, and cabbage are great sources.
Other foods: Kiwi, papaya, and cantaloupe.

Diagnosing and Treating Deficiency

If you suspect a vitamin deficiency, consulting a healthcare provider is essential. They can perform blood tests to assess vitamin levels and coagulation factors. Treatment typically involves vitamin supplementation and addressing any underlying malabsorption issues. A balanced diet focused on key food sources is crucial for preventing deficiency in the first place.

For more detailed information on Vitamin K, you can visit the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements website.

Conclusion: A Balanced Diet for Optimal Blood Health

In conclusion, while Vitamin K is the most direct cause of a bleeding disease due to its role in the coagulation cascade, Vitamin C deficiency can also cause bleeding by compromising blood vessel integrity. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of each and ensuring a diet rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods is the best strategy for preventing these conditions and maintaining overall blood health. If persistent bleeding, easy bruising, or other related symptoms appear, seeking medical advice is a critical next step to identify and address the root cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most direct cause of a nutritional bleeding disease is a deficiency of Vitamin K. This is because Vitamin K is essential for the liver to produce several key blood-clotting factors.

Vitamin C deficiency, also known as scurvy, causes bleeding by weakening the walls of blood vessels. Vitamin C is needed for the synthesis of collagen, a protein that provides structural integrity to blood vessels.

Early signs of Vitamin K deficiency include easy bruising, excessive bleeding from minor cuts, and blood appearing under the nails. In more severe cases, it can lead to internal bleeding.

Newborns are susceptible to Vitamin K deficiency because they are born with low stores of the vitamin and breast milk contains very little of it. This is why they are typically given a prophylactic Vitamin K injection at birth.

Excellent food sources of Vitamin K include green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and collard greens, as well as vegetable oils such as soybean and canola oil.

The common symptoms of scurvy include bleeding and swollen gums, easy bruising, poor wound healing, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue.

Taking a multi-vitamin can help prevent these issues, provided it contains adequate amounts of both Vitamin K and Vitamin C. However, it is always best to prioritize a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods to get your daily intake.