Vitamin K deficiency
Linked to Vitamin K
Low vitamin K impairs blood clotting, causing easy bleeding and bruising.
Where it shows on the body
Rotate the figure and click a red marker to see the affected area. Internal organs open a 3D organ model.
Affected areas
Causes
- Malabsorption
- Long-term antibiotics
- Newborns (low stores)
- Liver disease
Symptoms
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding gums and nose
- Heavy periods
- Blood in urine or stool
What happens if untreated
- Dangerous internal bleeding
- Bleeding in newborns without prophylaxis
Who is most at risk
- Newborns
- People with malabsorption or liver disease
Prevention & sources
- Leafy greens and vegetable oils
- Vitamin K injection for newborns
Correcting it: foods, amounts & timing
Foods that help & safe amounts
- Leafy green vegetables (kale, spinach, broccoli) most days
- Vegetable oils
- Vitamin K injection for newborns (routine)
Clotting improves within hours to days once vitamin K is restored.
Sources & references
Symptoms overlap — testing matters
Most deficiency symptoms (fatigue, poor concentration, skin and hair changes) are shared across several nutrients and many unrelated conditions. A symptom on this page is a reason to investigate, not a diagnosis.
A GP can confirm or rule out a deficiency with a blood test and check for underlying causes such as absorption problems. Do not start high-dose supplements on suspicion alone — some nutrients are harmful in excess, and supplementing before testing can mask the underlying result.