Q: I have been getting large bruises on my lower legs for no obvious reason. My doctor thinks taking vitamin K will help. Can you please explain what vitamin K does and in which foods it can be found?
A: The vitamin K family are derived from substances known as menaquinones, which are made naturally by bacteria that live in the intestinal tract. Vitamin K is important because it controls the formation of several clotting factors in the blood, the most important of which is prothrombin. Vitamin K also helps bones absorb calcium.
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Likely your medical history and blood tests have indicated a vitamin K deficiency, but liver disease should also be ruled out. Your doctor can do this by giving you an injection of a synthetic form of vitamin K. If your prothrombin levels significantly increase within six hours, then liver disease is unlikely.
There are some other diseases such as scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) allergic purpura, leukemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) that can cause similar spontaneous bruising, but these can be ruled out because they do not cause a low serum level of prothrombin.
Your best source of vitamin K is in foods such as leafy green vegetables, cheese and liver. It is also found in asparagus, bacon, green tea and coffee.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
