What Is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K2 or menaquinone, which occurs in animal-based foods, including butter and egg yolks, and fermented foods, such as kefir. The intestine also creates some of this vitamin. Both vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 produce proteins that help the blood clot.
If a person has a vitamin K deficiency, that means the person’s body cannot produce enough of these proteins, increasing the risk of excessive bleeding. Vitamin K deficiency is much more likely to occur in infants. When it does, it is known as vitamin K deficiency bleeding or VKDB.
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Why Is Vitamin K Important?
Vitamin K is important because it helps the liver make proteins that help blood to clot. It is also important for healthy bones. Adults usually have enough vitamin K because the normal bacteria in the gut produce it.
Vitamin K is stored in the liver, so you don’t need a lot of it every day. It will be more difficult to stop bleeding after an injury or surgery. Most adults with vitamin K deficiency have a serious health problem such as:
Anticoagulants such as warfarin might increase the risk of vitamin K deficiency.
If your clotting improves after the injection, then you have a vitamin K deficiency. You might also have other tests if there are other issues to investigate. Green beans, avocados, kiwifruit, vegetable oils, yoghurt, fermented food and drinks, and some cheeses are also good sources.
It may help if you see a dietitian. They can help the blood clot, and they might help increase bone strength. You should also avoid taking more than your doctor recommends since this might be harmful.
Epidemiology
They are written by UK doctors and based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. Treatment of almost all medical conditions has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nice has issued rapid update guidelines in relation to many of these.
This guidance is changing frequently.