Vitamin K, also known as mephyton, is a vitamin produced by friendly bacteria in your intestines. It also occurs naturally in some foods. The primary purpose of vitamin K is to facilitate blood clotting, which can help prevent excessive wound bleeding. It can also help prevent bleeding of peptic ulcers, organs and intestinal walls. Although vitamin K deficiencies are rare, several simple strategies can help you correct a deficiency and treat thin blood. Talk to your doctor before boosting your vitamin K intake.
-
Consume foods rich in vitamin K. These include spinach, kale, avocados, strawberries, dairy products, meats and broccoli, cabbage and asparagus.
-
Take a multivitamin supplement containing vitamin K. Most multivitamin supplements available in the United States contain about 25mcg of vitamin K, or about 31 percent of the recommended daily intake for adults.
-
Take a vitamin K supplement. These supplements are available in tablet and capsule form, and are available in dosages as high as 5mg. However, dosages this high are typically unnecessary unless you have a malabsorption disorder or an underlying disease that causes significant vitamin deficiency.
Tip
If you have a severe vitamin K deficiency, you may need vitamin K injections to correct this problem. Vitamin K injections should only be administered by a physician.
Warnings
Contact your doctor if you notice bleeding from your gums or if skin wounds bleed excessively. Your doctor may diagnose vitamin K deficiency and may examine you for underlying causes.
