*Vitamin K is absorbed by the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria or flora is good bacteria, It is also rare for someone to have a vitamin K deficiency.* Vitamin K is also known as a clotting vitamin.If a person is taking a prescribed blood thinner such as coumadin, for heart problems or possibly a blood clot somewhere in the body and they receive too much blood thinner then the treatment is generally some Vitamin K.

If I had a patient on a blood thinner then the doctor would order blood draws from the lab every few weeks to decide how fast that person's blood is clotting. This blood sample would tell us if that patients blood level was in an appropriate range. If is was low then the person would get more blood thinner and do another blood draw in a few days. If the level was slightly high the doctor would decrease the amount of blood thinner that the person was taking and do another blood draw in a few weeks. If the level was really high then the doctor would probably stop the blood thinner and the nurse would have to administer Vitamin K right away and the person would have another blood draw soon after. The doctor and nurse would watch that person carefully and have that person receive a blood sample every few weeks to decide if their clotting time level stays within acceptable range.

New born babies generally receive a Vitamin K injection after birth as in newborns it takes awhile for their intestinal flora to develop and they are at risk for Vitamin K deficiency.

*People who have a malabsorption problem, kidney disease or cancer or are on long-term antibiotics may be at risk for a Vitamin K deficiency.*

It is a well-known fact in the medical field that long-term antibiotics, and even short term sometimes will destroy intestinal flora or the good bacteria in the intestines. When antibiotics are taken it is a good idea to take a couple spoonfuls of yogurt a couple of times a day, or just start eating yogurt yogurt contains Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus will replace the good bacteria in the intestinal tract. Antibiotics, sometimes cause diarrhea which is a side effect of this loss of good bacteria from antibiotic use. Children are especially prone to this.

*Symptoms of Vitamin K deficiency include severe bleeding and liver damage. An overdose of Vitamin K in an infant can lead to Jaundice or yellowing of the skin.*

*A good food source of Vitamin K would be leafy green vegetables, avocados, whole grains, fortified cereals, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, organ meats, soybeans, canola, fish oils and pistachios*.

Here's to your health and wellness

Reference *The Cornell Encyclopedia of Health*