Vitamin E deficiency is rare. In the United States, deficiency is
limited primarily to people with an inborn deficiency of alpha-TTP and
to those who have fat malabsorption syndromes, and hence cannot absorb
fat-soluble vitamins.
Malabsorption syndromes that prevent the proper absorption of nutrients
can cause vitamin K deficiencies. Malabsorption is the inability to
absorb dietary food. Mucosal barrier to absorption: disease of small
intestine. Malabsorption constitutes the pathological interference with
the normal physiological sequence of digestion (intraluminal process),
absorption (mucosal process) and transport (postmucosal events) of
nutrients.
Vitamin K deficiency is seen in patients with malabsorption syndromes
such as pancreatitis, short bowel syndrome, sprue, or small bowel states
of bacterial overgrowth such as sometimes accompany use of
broad-spectrum antibiotics. It also can be seen in patients with
extremely poor dietary intake of green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin K is fat-soluble and therefore requires bile salts for
absorption from the jejunum. Biliary obstruction, malabsorption
syndromes, gastrointestinal obstruction, or rapid gastrointestinal
transit can result in vitamin K deficiency because of inadequate
absorption.
Malabsorption syndromes can cause vitamin K deficiencies
