What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin K deficiency?

    Written by:

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Vitamin K deficiency can lead to symptoms such as bleeding disorders, impaired bone development, and spontaneous rash. Biomarkers of vitamin K status include low serum concentrations of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and PIVKA-II, an incompletely carboxylated form of prothrombin, which is essential for blood coagulation.

    The symptoms of vitamin K deficiency include bleeding disorders, impaired bone development, and spontaneous rash.[1][2] The signs of vitamin K deficiency include biomarkers of vitamin K status, such as low serum concentrations of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and PIVKA-II (protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II).[3][2] PIVKA-II is an incompletely carboxylated form of prothrombin, which is a key protein involved in blood coagulation that is carboxylated by vitamin K.[3][2]

    What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin K deficiency? - Examine