Vitamin K

What is vitamin K and what does it do?

Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It’s important for blood clotting and healthy bones and also has other functions in the body. If you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), it's very important to get about the same amount of vitamin K each day.

How much vitamin K do I need?

The amount of vitamin K you need depends on your age and sex. Average daily recommended amounts are listed below in micrograms (mcg).

What foods provide vitamin K?

Vitamin K is found naturally in many foods. You can get recommended amounts of vitamin K by eating a variety of foods, including the following:

• Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and lettuce
• Vegetable oils
• Some fruits, such as blueberries and figs
• Meat, cheese, eggs, and soybeans

You can find links to more food sources of vitamin K in the last section of this fact sheet, Where can I find out more about Vitamin K?

What kinds of vitamin K dietary supplements are available?

Vitamin K is found in multivitamin/mineral supplements. Vitamin K is also available in supplements of vitamin K alone or of vitamin K with a few other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and/or vitamin D. Common forms of vitamin K in dietary supplements are phylloquinone and phytonadione (also called vitamin K1), menaquinone-4, and menaquinone-7 (also called vitamin K2).

Am I getting enough vitamin K?

Vitamin K deficiency is very rare. Most people in the United States get enough vitamin K from the foods they eat. Also, bacteria in the colon make some vitamin K that the body can absorb. However, certain groups of people may have trouble getting enough vitamin K:

• Newborns who don’t receive an injection of vitamin K at birth
• People with conditions (such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and short bowel syndrome) that decrease the amount of vitamin K their body absorbs
• People who have had bariatric (weight loss) surgery

What happens if I don't get enough vitamin K?

Severe vitamin K deficiency can cause bruising and bleeding problems because the blood will take longer to clot. Vitamin K deficiency might reduce bone strength and increase the risk of getting osteoporosis because the body needs vitamin K for healthy bones.

What are some effects of vitamin K on health?

Scientists are studying vitamin K to understand how it affects our health. Here are some examples of what this research has shown.

Osteoporosis

Vitamin K is important for healthy bones. Some research shows that people who eat more vitamin K-rich foods have stronger bones and are less likely to break a hip than those who eat less of these foods. A few studies have found that taking vitamin K supplements improves bone strength and lessens the chances of breaking a bone, but other studies have not. More research is needed to better understand if vitamin K supplements can help improve bone health and reduce osteoporosis risk.

Coronary heart disease

Scientists are studying whether low blood levels of vitamin K increase the risk of coronary heart disease, perhaps by making blood vessels that feed the heart stiffer and narrower. More research is needed to understand whether vitamin K supplements might help prevent heart disease.

Can vitamin K be harmful?

Vitamin K has not been shown to cause any harm. However, it can interact with some medications, particularly warfarin (Coumadin); see the information below.

Does vitamin K interact with medications or other dietary supplements?

Yes, some medications may interact with vitamin K. Here are a few examples:

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Vitamin K can have a serious interaction with the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin). If you take warfarin, make sure that the amount of vitamin K you consume from food and supplements is about the same every day. A sudden change in the amount of vitamin K you get can cause dangerous bleeding (if you consume less) or blood clots (if you consume more).

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can destroy the good bacteria in your gut. Some of these bacteria make vitamin K. Using antibiotics for more than a few weeks may reduce the amount of vitamin K made in your gut and, therefore, the amount available for your body to use.

Bile acid sequestrants

Some people take bile acid sequestrants (such as cholestyramine [Questran] and colestipol [Colestid]) to lower blood cholesterol levels. These medications can reduce the amount of vitamin K your body absorbs, especially if you take them for many years.

Orlistat

Orlistat (Alli and Xenical) is a weight-loss drug. It reduces the amount of fat your body absorbs and can decrease the absorption of vitamin K.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other health care providers about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take. They can tell you if the dietary supplements might interact with your medicines or if the medicines might interfere with how your body absorbs, uses, or breaks down nutrients such as vitamin K.

Vitamin K and healthful eating

People should get most of their nutrients from food and beverages, according to the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Foods contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and other components that benefit health. In some cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements are useful when it is not possible to meet needs for one or more nutrients (for example, during specific life stages such as pregnancy). For more information about building a healthy dietary pattern, see the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) MyPlate.

Where can I find out more about Vitamin K?

• For general information on vitamin K
  • Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) Health Professional Fact Sheet on Vitamin K
  • Vitamin K, MedLinePlus
• For more information on food sources of vitamin K
  • ODS Health Professional Fact Sheet on Vitamin K
  • USDA's FoodData Central
  • USDA Nutrient Lists for vitamin K as either
    • Phylloquinone, the form of vitamin K found in green leafy vegetables, listed by food or by content, or
    • Menaquinone, a form of vitamin K found in fermented foods and foods that come from animals, listed by food or by content
• For more advice on choosing dietary supplements
  • ODS Frequently Asked Questions: Which brand(s) of dietary supplements should I purchase?
• For information about building a healthy dietary pattern
  • MyPlate
  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Updated: March 22, 2021 History of changes to this fact sheet