Vitamin K deficiency may be induced by obstructive liver disease, obstructive icterus, malabsorption due to celiac disease, pancreatitis, diarrhea, and antibiotic abuse; may be used to treat blood clotting disorders, bone metabolism disorders, and hemorrhagic disorders of newborns.

In humans, deficiency of vitamin K leads to decreased concentrations of circulating, active coagulation factors, which often results in bleeding. Vitamin K nutritional status has also been implicated in osteoporosis. Interest in vitamin K has increased beyond its well-established function in blood clotting with human epidemiological and intervention studies suggesting that vitamin K may reduce bone loss in osteoporotic people and decrease fracture risk.