Vitamin K can be found in many different topical creams for the skin, and it can help treat a variety of skin conditions. Doctors frequently use creams that contain vitamin K on patients who have just undergone surgery to help reduce swelling and bruising. This may help speed up skin healing.
Vitamin K is found in the following foods:
- Green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, turnip greens, collards, Swiss chard, mustard greens, parsley, romaine, and green leaf lettuce.
- Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.
- Fish, liver, meat, eggs, and cereals (contain smaller amounts)
Vitamins D and K are both fat-soluble vitamins and play a central role in calcium metabolism. Vitamin D promotes the production of vitamin K-dependent proteins, which require vitamin K for carboxylation in order to function properly.
Side Effects
- Decreased appetite.
- decreased movement or activity.
- difficulty in breathing.
- enlarged liver.
- general body swelling.
- muscle stiffness.
- paleness.
Vitamin K is vitally important to blood clotting because the proteins that create the fibrin webbing in the second part of the clotting process depend on this vitamin. Vitamin K is needed for the clotting proteins to be activated and start the final part of the clotting process.
Vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting. It is also needed for healthy bones and other tissues. The effects of vitamin K toxicity can include anemia due to rupture of red blood cells and jaundice.
10 Fruits High in Vitamin K
- Prunes — 24% DV per serving. 5 pieces: 28 mcg (24% DV)
- Kiwi — 23% DV per serving.
- Avocado — 18% DV per serving.
- Blackberries — 12% DV per serving.
- Blueberries — 12% DV per serving.
- Pomegranate — 12% DV per serving.
- Figs (dried) — 6% DV per serving.
- Tomatoes (sun-dried) — 4% DV per serving.
Vitamin K supplements are relatively safe, and many people take them. People taking blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin®), should not take vitamin K without consulting their doctor because vitamin K can reverse the effects of these drugs.
Phytonadione (vitamin K) is used to prevent bleeding in people with blood clotting problems or too little vitamin K in the body.
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) is a bleeding problem that occurs in some newborns during the first few days of life. VKDB was previously called hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
The signs and symptoms associated with vitamin K deficiency may include:
- Easy bruising.
- Oozing from nose or gums.
- Excessive bleeding from wounds, punctures, and injection or surgical sites.
- Heavy menstrual periods.
- Bleeding from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
- Blood in the urine and/or stool.
To diagnose a vitamin K deficiency, a doctor will ask about a person's medical history to see if they have any risk factors. The doctor may use a coagulation test called the prothrombin time or PT test. They take a small blood sample and then add chemicals to observe how long it takes to clot.
Why are babies more likely to have vitamin K deficiency and to get VKDB? All infants, regardless of sex, race, or ethnic background, are at higher risk for VKDB until they start eating regular foods, usually at age 4-6 months, and until the normal intestinal bacteria start making vitamin K.
If you suddenly increase your intake of vitamin K intake in your diet, it can have an unintended consequence. It can actually decrease the effect of warfarin, says cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD. “This is because vitamin K is an essential part of the chemical process for forming blood clots in your body,” she says.
So, go bananas! But be sure to eat green bananas in normal portions and make sure you keep testing your regular blood test to make sure your INR doesn't drop below your target range.
Thus, administration of vitamin K is required when more prompt or complete reversal of anticoagulation is necessary. Most patients with supratherapeutic INR values do not require vitamin K. Fewer than 4% of patients with an INR > 6 will develop major bleeding if no active intervention is instituted.
