Vitamin K Deficiency

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a naturally occurring vitamin in the body and is vital in the process of blood clotting. Vitamin K is needed by all of us for forming blood clots and to stop and prevent abnormal bleeding. Vitamin K is a fat soluble nutrient present in food and also produced by gut bacteria.

What is Vitamin K Deficiency?

As vitamin K does not cross placenta, newborn infantsare born with relatively lower body stores of vitamin K.While breastfeeding is ideal for infants, breast milklacks sufficient vitamin K. Infant formula provideshigher content of vitamin K but still remains inadequatefor the requirement. Infants may take up to six weeksto replenish vitamin K, leaving them vulnerable tobleeding episodes.

Without vitamin K supplementation at birth, infantsmay experience severe bleeding from the nose,mouth, umbilical stump, skin, and even the brain andbowel, posing a potentially grave risk. This bleedingdisorder is called Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB),previously known as Hemorrhagic Disease of Newborn(HDN). VKDB is largely seen in breast-fed infants andmore frequently seen in Asian countries compared toCaucasian population.

How can we prevent Vitamin K Deficiency?

Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding is a serious and potentially life-threatening cause of bleeding in infants which can be best prevented by a single injection (Vitamin K) given at birth. All infants born in Singapore are routinely given vitamin K injection at birth.

Vitamin K can be given via an intramuscular injection or by mouth. Absorption after intramuscular injection is much better than after oral administration and maintains normal vitamin K blood levels for a longer period. Hence, intramuscular route is the preferred method for efficiency and reliability. Oral administration is less effective and is not recommended.

Vitamin administration has been recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics since 1961, andre-endorsed in 1993 and 2003. All newborn infants should receive vitamin K within six hours of birth.

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