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Vitamin K’s most important role is in helping the blood to clot following an injury. Vitamin K is involved in activating six of the 13 proteins that cause blood to clot following an injury. This prevents a person from bleeding to death.

It also helps the body to synthesize other proteins for the kidneys, blood and bones and plays an important role in helping bones develop normal structure. Without enough vitamin K, bone produces a protein that is unable to bind with the minerals that normally help form bone. As a result, bone density is low, which raises the risk of the bone-thinning disease known as osteoporosis.

Vitamin K supplements also may be used to reduce the risk of bleeding in liver disease and malabsorption syndromes. Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding may be treated with vitamin K. Other conditions that may be treated with vitamin K include:

• Osteoporosis. Research indicates that vitamin K supplements strengthen bones and reduce the risk of fractures, particularly in post-menopausal women.
  
  
• Cystic fibrosis. People with this condition often have vitamin K deficiency and may benefit from taking supplements.  Vitamin K deficiency in individuals with cystic fibrosis is worsened by their recurrent need for antibiotics, which can lead to destruction of the bacteria in intestines that create vitamin K.
  
  
• Kidney stones. Vitamin K supplements may help prevent formation of kidney stones.  Vegetarians, who tend to have a high vitamin K intake, usually have a low incidence of kidney stones.
  
  
• Body odor. Vitamin K is available in plant foods in a water-soluble source known as chlorophyll, which is sometimes used to control body, fecal and urinary odor.
  
  
• Skin wounds. Water-soluble forms of vitamin K may be used to treat skin wounds.
  
  
• Snake bites. Some snake venoms destroy vitamin K, putting a person at risk for bleeding to death. An injection of vitamin K can arrest this process.

Despite the potential benefits, taking supplements is not without risk. Some people may experience side effects, and vitamin K supplements may interact poorly with some medications. As a result, people are urged not to take vitamin K or any other supplement without first consulting a physician.