What happens to the body if there is an excess of vitamin K?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi My - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang.
Side effects of vitamin K excess include enlarged liver, paleness, increased sweating, shortness of breath, muscle stiffness, edema, irregular breathing, decreased movement or activity, swollen eyelids, or red skin. For young children and infants, vitamin K plays a particularly important role in the prevention and control of bleeding, especially bleeding in the brain and meninges. At the same time, they can combine with calcium to help strengthen bones. However, excess vitamin K is also very dangerous because it can cause hemolysis, jaundice and cerebral palsy...

1. What is Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is an important component of the liver enzyme system that synthesizes clotting factors such as prothrombin (factor II), factors VII, IX, X, which are a group of fat-soluble vitamins, the same. It is structurally important and plays an important role in the regulation of blood coagulation, which is necessary for the support of coagulation. Vitamin K also supports bone metabolism and calcium metabolism in the vascular system. If the body is deficient in vitamin K, the blood will not be able to clot, leading to bleeding and this can lead to death.

2. Types of vitamin K

There are two natural forms of vitamin K: vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, found naturally in foods, and vitamin K2, or menaquinone, which is made by beneficial bacteria in the gut.
There are 3 known synthetic forms of vitamin K: vitamins K3, K4, and K5. Although natural vitamins K1 and K2 are non-toxic, the synthetic form K3 (menadione) is toxic.
Vitamin K is often found in foods such as: Broccoli, spinach, celery, asparagus, cucumber, basil, olive oil, parsley, cloves, eggs, dried fruit...

3. So what is the risk of vitamin K deficiency?

When the body is deficient in vitamins and minerals, children will grow slowly and suffer from a number of diseases, for example: Vitamin A deficiency can cause eye diseases, respiratory and digestive tract infections; vitamin B1 deficiency is prone to edema, inflammation of the nerves, heart failure; vitamin C deficiency easily causes bleeding under the skin and mucous membranes, reducing the body's resistance to diseases, especially bacterial infections; vitamin K deficiency is prone to bleeding, especially bleeding in the brain and meninges; lack of vitamin D and calcium will cause rickets ; zinc deficiency is prone to skin diseases; Fluoride deficiency leads to dental disease, iron deficiency leads to anemia...
When the body lacks vitamin K, blood will be difficult to clot (takes a long time to clot). This can cause excessive blood loss and increase the risk of death from injury. Vitamin K deficiency is rare in healthy adults. However, people with severe digestive disorders or on chronic antibiotic therapy are at risk for vitamin K deficiency.

4. Excess vitamin K

Excess vitamin K is usually only seen with prolonged parenteral administration and can cause hemolysis and jaundice.
Side effects of vitamin K overdose include enlarged liver, paleness, increased sweating, difficulty breathing, muscle stiffness, edema, irregular breathing, decreased movement or activity, eyelid swelling or skin redness
With In young children and infants, vitamin K plays a particularly important role in the prevention and control of hemorrhage, especially bleeding in the brain and meninges. At the same time, they can combine with calcium to help strengthen bones. However, too much vitamin K is also very dangerous because it can cause hemolysis, jaundice and cerebral palsy... The type of vitamin K commonly used for babies is vitamin K1 of natural origin. The reason for giving vitamin K to children right after birth is because this vitamin is difficult to metabolize across the placenta, so newborn babies need vitamin K injections to prevent brain hemorrhage. At the same time, breastfed babies absorb less vitamin K than formula-fed babies, so in order for babies not to lack vitamin K, mothers need to increase their intake of foods containing this vitamin."

Hemorrhage of the brain and meninges is very dangerous for newborns, can cause death or leave severe sequelae. Therefore, in order to prevent the risk of bleeding for children and help children develop healthy, medical facilities need to strictly adhere to the intake or injection of vitamin K in accordance with the dosage and instructions of the Ministry of Health.
Anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin®) are prescribed to prevent the normal function of vitamin K in the body. Consuming very large or very small amounts of vitamin K can alter the activity of these drugs. If you take anticoagulants, pay attention to the foods you consume such as spinach and turnip greens as they have a lot of vitamin K, and also need to ensure the amount of vitamin K consumed from day to day. Other days are the same to ensure the effectiveness of the drug.
Consult your doctor before taking supplements like ginkgo and garlic, because these foods can also affect blood clotting.
Master. American doctor has more than 6 years of experience as an internal medicine doctor at Hue Central Hospital, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital; Tam Tri Da Nang Hospital; Danang Hospital. Currently, he is a General Internal Medicine Doctor at Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

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