Which vitamin deficiency can cause excessive bleeding?

Prepare for the ASVAB General Science Test with interactive quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Ace your exam with ease!

Vitamin K plays a crucial role in the blood clotting process. It is essential for synthesizing various proteins known as clotting factors, which help control bleeding. Without sufficient Vitamin K, the body struggles to form clots properly, leading to excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging even from minor injuries. Blood coagulation, or the process of blood clotting, relies heavily on the presence of Vitamin K to activate these proteins in the liver, making it vital for maintaining normal blood clotting function.

In contrast, while Vitamin A is important for vision and immune function, Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cells, and Vitamin B12 is primarily involved in the formation of red blood cells and maintaining nerve function. These vitamins do not have a direct relationship with the clotting process in the same way that Vitamin K does, which is why their deficiencies do not typically lead to excessive bleeding.

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