In newborn babies, a vitamin K deficiency can arise due to inadequate vitamin K storage or a vitamin K deficiency in the mother’s breast milk.[1][2][3][4] This can lead to a type of hemorrhage called vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
Vitamin K deficiency is not common in adults. Still, it can occur due to inadequate dietary intake or the use of drugs known to interfere with the absorption, metabolism, and synthesis of vitamin K (e.g., anticoagulants and drugs that affect the intestinal absorption of dietary fat).[5] It is also possible that antibiotics can inhibit the growth of vitamin-K-producing bacteria in the intestine and increase the risk of vitamin K deficiency.[5]
Vitamin K deficiency can also occur in people with hepatobiliary dysfunction or inflammatory bowel disease due to the impaired absorption and metabolism of vitamin K.
In women, severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (known as hyperemesis gravidarum) and malnutrition during pregnancy can also cause vitamin K deficiency and lead to hemorrhage.[5][6][7]