Known for its critical role in blood clotting, vitamin K is produced in sufficient amounts by food intake and gut bacteria in adults, but the situation is entirely different for newborn babies. Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin from the Department of Medical Biochemistry stated that babies are born deprived of this vital vitamin, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of "newborn hemorrhagic (bleeding) disease," and emphasized: “The most serious and adverse consequence of vitamin K deficiency is intracranial bleeding and bleeding in internal organs.”
Explaining that in such cases the baby may not only lose their life but may also face severe problems such as intellectual disability and paralysis as a result of brain damage, Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin said: “A single dose of vitamin K administered to newborns right after birth prevents this deficiency, as well as the bleeding and negative outcomes that may result from it.”
Prof. Nilgün Tekkeşin from the Department of Medical Biochemistry at Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine (English program) evaluated the issue of vitamin K injection administered to newborns immediately after birth.
Babies are born with low vitamin K stores
Prof. Tekkeşin pointed out that vitamin K is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that can be stored in the body and said: “It plays a very important role in blood clotting. Its deficiency can lead to bleeding, clotting disorders, and consequently malfunctions in many tissues and organs of the body. In healthy individuals, most of the vitamin K required by the body is obtained from consumed foods and the healthy bacteria in our intestines. However, babies are born with low vitamin K stores and do not have enough bacteria in their intestines to produce vitamin K on their own. Moreover, until complementary foods are introduced along with breast milk after the 6th month, their need for vitamin K cannot be adequately met.”
A single dose of vitamin K prevents negative outcomes
Highlighting that babies are at risk, Prof. Tekkeşin continued: “This insufficient amount causes newborn babies to be at risk of newborn hemorrhagic (bleeding) disease, which is a bleeding disorder seen in infants. Even normal newborns with low vitamin K stores are prone to this deficiency and bleeding. The disease progresses longer and more severely, especially in premature babies. Bleeding can occur either inside or outside the body. The most serious and adverse consequence of vitamin K deficiency is intracranial bleeding and bleeding in internal organs. In such cases, the baby may die or suffer significant problems such as intellectual disability and paralysis due to brain damage. A single dose of vitamin K administered to newborns immediately after birth prevents this deficiency and the resulting bleeding and adverse outcomes.” Stating that vitamin K has been administered by injection at birth to all newborns for more than 20 years, Prof. Tekkeşin concluded: “However, in addition to having a program in place to carry out the injections, parents must also be informed about why the vitamin K injection is given.”
Babies are born with low vitamin K stores
Prof. Tekkeşin stated that vitamin K is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that can be stored in the body and said: "It has very important functions in blood clotting. In case of deficiency, bleeding, clotting disorders, and consequently disorders in many tissues and organs of the body may occur. In healthy individuals, most of the vitamin K required by the body is obtained from consumed foods and from the healthy bacteria in our intestines. However, babies are born with low levels of vitamin K stores and do not have enough bacteria in their intestines to produce vitamin K on their own. In addition, until complementary foods are introduced along with breast milk after the 6th month, their need for vitamin K cannot be adequately met."
A single dose of vitamin K prevents adverse outcomes
Pointing out that babies are at risk, Prof. Tekkeşin continued: "This insufficient amount causes newborn babies to be at risk of newborn hemorrhagic (bleeding) disease, which is a bleeding disorder seen in infants. Even normal newborns with low vitamin K stores tend to experience this deficiency and bleeding. The disease progresses longer and more severely, especially in premature babies. Bleeding may occur either inside or outside the body. The most important and adverse consequence of vitamin K deficiency is intracranial bleeding and bleeding in internal organs. In such cases, the baby may die, or may have to face significant problems such as intellectual disability and paralysis due to brain damage. A single dose of vitamin K administered to newborn babies immediately after birth prevents this deficiency, as well as the bleeding and adverse outcomes that may result from it."
Emphasizing that vitamin K has been administered by injection to all newborn babies at birth for more than 20 years, Prof. Tekkeşin concluded: "However, in addition to the existence of a program to carry out these injections, parents should also be informed about why the vitamin K injection is given."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)