How much vitamin K is in breast milk?

Understanding Vitamin K in Breast Milk
Vitamin K is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in blood clotting and bone health. For newborns, adequate levels of vitamin K are particularly important, as they are born with very low stores of this vitamin. This raises questions about the vitamin K content in breast milk, especially for breastfeeding mothers.
Vitamin K Levels in Breast Milk
Research indicates that breast milk contains relatively low levels of vitamin K. Specifically, the concentration of vitamin K in breast milk typically ranges from 1 to 9 micrograms per liter. This amount is significantly lower than what is found in formula milk, which is often fortified with vitamin K to ensure that infants receive adequate amounts.
Interestingly, the vitamin K content in breast milk does not significantly increase even when mothers take vitamin K supplements. Studies show that breast milk from mothers who are supplementing with vitamin K remains low in this nutrient . This suggests that while maternal supplementation may be beneficial for other health reasons, it does not substantially enhance the vitamin K levels in breast milk.
Implications for Newborns
The low levels of vitamin K in breast milk can pose a risk for breastfed infants, particularly in the first few weeks of life. Newborns do not have the gut bacteria necessary to synthesize vitamin K until they begin to eat solid foods, which can take several months. As a result, breastfed infants may be at risk for vitamin K deficiency, which can lead to conditions such as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn .
To mitigate this risk, many healthcare providers recommend administering a vitamin K injection to newborns shortly after birth. This practice has been shown to effectively prevent vitamin K deficiency and its associated complications.
Conclusion
In summary, while breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants, it is important to recognize that it contains only small amounts of vitamin K. For breastfeeding mothers, even supplementation does not significantly increase the vitamin K levels in their milk. Therefore, healthcare professionals often recommend vitamin K injections for newborns to ensure they receive adequate amounts of this vital nutrient during the early stages of life.

Is breast milk high in vitamin K?

Breast milk is low in vitamin K. Breast milk from mothers who are taking vitamin K supplements is also low in vitamin K. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns, whether breastfed or formula fed, receive a one-time intramuscular shot of vitamin K within 6 hours after birth.

What are the symptoms of too much vitamin K?

Vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting. It is also needed for healthy bones and other tissues. The effects of vitamin K toxicity can include anemia due to rupture of red blood cells and jaundice. Jaundice in newborns can cause kernicterus (a type of brain damage).

How much vitamin K is in formula?

This is because in contrast to breast milk, formula has relatively high levels of Vitamin K1—55 micrograms per liter (Shearer 2009). On average, babies who are fed formula receive nearly 100 times more Vitamin K1 than babies who are breastfed (45.4 micrograms per day compared to 0.55 micrograms per day).

Do formula-fed babies need vitamin K?

The first dose is given at birth, and the second dose at 1 week of age. For breastfed babies, a third dose is given by mouth when the baby is 28 days old. For formula-fed babies, the first two doses are enough, because vitamin K is added to formula milk.

Can a baby have too much vitamin K?

Vitamin K toxicity is rare but is most common in formula-fed infants. The effects of vitamin K toxicity can include hemolytic anemia and jaundice. Jaundice in newborns can cause kernicterus. Treatment is to stop vitamin K and provide supportive care.

Will they circumcise without vitamin K?

Circumcision should not be done without receiving a Vitamin K shot. Without a Vitamin K shot there is also an increased risk of bleeding if your baby would need any surgical procedure now or in the future.

Can you refuse a vitamin K shot at birth?

You always have the right to refuse treatment, including these things for your baby. In fact, you will have to sign something if they give your baby a vaccine. We did Vitamin K, but delayed Hep B (which is not routine at our hospital anyway) and skipped the eye ointment, because it was unnecessary for us.

How much vitamin K is in milk?

Reduced-fat or fat-free dairy products contained ∼5–22% of the vitamin K found in full-fat equivalents. For example, total vitamin K contents of full-fat milk (4% fat), 2%-fat milk, 1%-fat milk, and nonfat milk were 38.1 ± 8.6, 19.4 ± 7.7, 12.9 ± 2.0, and 7.7 ± 2.9 µg/100 g, respectively.

Can breastfeeding cause vitamin K deficiency?

Exclusively breastmilk‐fed preterm infants are at high risk of developing subclinical vitamin K deficiency despite intramuscular prophylaxis at birth – PMC.

Why do parents decline vitamin K for their newborns?

Some thought vitamin K may increase their child’s risk for leukemia. Even though a 1992 report linked vitamin K with childhood cancer, the finding never was replicated in other studies. Other parents said they wanted to minimize their child’s exposure to “toxins” and some thought it wasn’t necessary.