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Vitamin K: Benefits, Side Effects and Safety


Also called: vitamin K1, vitamin K2

Vitamin K is a nutrient that your body needs to stay healthy. It is vital for blood clotting and strong bones. Most people get enough from their daily diet.

What is vitamin K?

Vitamin K is a nutrient that helps your body function. It plays a key role in how your blood clots. It also helps keep your bones strong.

You can find it in many foods. These include green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, meat, cheese, and eggs.

What are the vitamin K benefits?

Scientists study vitamin K for its role in bone and heart health. Some research shows that eating foods rich in vitamin K may lead to stronger bones.

Studies on whether supplements help prevent bone breaks have mixed results. More research is needed to see if it helps heart health too.

What is the vitamin K dosage?

The amount you need depends on your age and sex. Most adult men need 120 mcg each day. Most adult women need 90 mcg each day.

You can get these amounts by eating a healthy mix of foods. Supplements are available if you cannot get enough from your diet.

What are the vitamin K side effects?

Vitamin K has not been shown to cause harm. However, it can change how some medicines work in your body.

If you do not get enough, you may bruise easily. You might also have trouble with bleeding because your blood takes longer to clot.

Who should not take vitamin K?

Vitamin K deficiency is rare. Some people may have trouble absorbing it. This includes people with certain gut conditions or those who had weight loss surgery.

Newborns also need special care. They often receive a shot of vitamin K at birth to prevent health problems.

What are the vitamin K drug interactions?

Vitamin K can interact with some medicines. Always tell your doctor about the supplements you take.

It is very important to keep your vitamin K intake steady if you take blood thinners. Changes in your diet can cause dangerous bleeding or blood clots.

Does Vitamin K interact with any medications?

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking vitamin k if you take any prescription medicine. The list below is not complete.

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Vitamin K can have a serious interaction with this blood thinner. You must keep your daily intake of vitamin K about the same.

A sudden change in your intake can cause dangerous bleeding or blood clots.

Antibiotics

These drugs can kill good bacteria in your gut. Some of these bacteria make vitamin K for your body.

Using these drugs for more than a few weeks may lower the vitamin K your body can use.

Bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine and colestipol)

These drugs help lower cholesterol. They can reduce how much vitamin K your body absorbs over time.

Orlistat (Alli and Xenical)

This weight-loss drug reduces fat absorption. It can also decrease how much vitamin K your body absorbs.

Common questions about vitamin k

Can I get enough vitamin K from food?
Yes. Most people in the United States get enough from the foods they eat.
Does vitamin K help with bone health?
It is important for bones. Some studies show supplements help, but others do not. More research is needed.
Is it safe to take vitamin K with blood thinners?
You must talk to your doctor. You need to keep your daily intake of vitamin K steady to avoid serious health risks.
This page is for education only. It is not medical advice, and it is not a recommendation to take vitamin k. Natural Medical Solutions Wellness Center does not diagnose, treat, or cure. Supplements can affect how your medicines work. Talk with your doctor and your pharmacist before you start, stop, or change any supplement, and keep working with the providers you already see.

Where this information comes from

Written from NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, a public-domain resource from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Information retrieved 2026-08-21.

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