The blood clotting factors of newborn babies are roughly 30 to 60 percent that of adult values, this may be due to the reduced synthesis of precursor proteins and the sterility of their guts.
Human milk contains between 1 and 4 micrograms/litre of vitamin K1, while formula derived milk can contain up to 100 micrograms/litre in supplemented formulas. Vitamin K2 concentrations in human milk appear to be much lower than those of vitamin K1.
It is estimated that there is a 0.25 to 1.7 percent occurrence of vitamin K deficiency bleeding in the first week of the infant's life with a prevalence of 2-10 cases per 100,000 births . Premature babies have even lower level and so are at a higher risk from this deficiency.
USA
As a result of the occurrences of vitamin K deficiency bleeding, the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that 0.5 to 1.0 mg Vitamin K1 be administered to all newborns shortly after birth .
UK
In the UK vitamin K is administered to newborns as either as a single injection at birth or three orally administered doses given at birth and then over the baby's first month.
Controversy
Controversy arose in the early 1990’s regarding this practice when two studies were shown suggesting a relationship between parenteral administration of vitamin K and childhood cancer (14). However, poor methods and small sample sizes led to the discredit of these studies and a review of the evidence published in 2000 by Ross and Davies found no link between the two.
Further Reading
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