What is the primary cause of vitamin K deficiency?

The primary cause of vitamin K deficiency is often linked to long-term use of certain antibiotics or malabsorption disorders. Vitamin K is essential for synthesizing clotting factors in the liver, and it is primarily found in green leafy vegetables and intestinal bacteria. Prolonged use of antibiotics can disrupt the normal intestinal flora that synthesizes vitamin K, leading to a deficiency.

Malabsorption disorders can also significantly affect the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin K. Conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or pancreatic insufficiency can impair the body's ability to absorb this critical nutrient effectively from the diet.

While dietary insufficiency and decreased liver function can lead to vitamin K deficiency, they are not considered the primary causes. Inadequate dietary intake is relatively rare since vitamin K is widely available in foods and synthesized by gut bacteria. Similarly, while liver function is crucial for processing vitamin K, the disruption of gut flora or malabsorption is a more direct and frequent cause of deficiency. Chronic kidney disease typically does not directly affect vitamin K levels, though it may impact overall nutrition and related metabolic processes in the body.