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Vitamin K1 in Prevention of Hemorrhagic Disease of the Neonate Vitamin K1 deficiency can rarely cause bleeding in infants up to 4 months of age; there is an early and a late form of hemorrhagic disease of infancy. The early form of disease usually occurs in the first week of life and is prevented by compulsory-by-law vitamin K1 administration at or near birth. Since formulas are fortified with vitamin K1 [Similac, for example, contains 8 mcg Vitamin K1 per 5 ounces] the late form of disease is mainly a problem in breast fed infants since breast milk contains no measurable vitamin K1. Vitamin K2, produced by bacteria in the bowel, is deficient until flora is established some time after the 1st month of life. The routine vitamin K1injection given at birth will not prevent late hemorrhagic disease. It has therefore been recommended that breast fed infants be given a second injection of vitamin K1 at 1 month of age. It is likely that oral vitamin K1 is equally effective in preventing the late disease. Based on this information and studies done in Europe we recommend that all breast fed babies be given, in addition to the vitamin K1 injection at birth, 2 mg [1 drop] of oral vitamin K1 daily for the first 8 weeks of life. Since vitamin K1 is not known to be toxic these doses should be ample and tolerable. back
October 2001
©2002 South Valley Pediatrics
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