Lack of vitamin K usually does not result in severe, painful, and debilitating symptoms like other vitamin deficiencies, such as lack of vitamin C (scurvy), B1 (beriberi), and D (rickets). Lack of vitamin K1 may lead to improper blood clotting or bleeding, meanwhile lack of K2 may lead to a decline in bone health (potential osteoporosis) and calcification of cardiovascular artery which resulting stiff and inelastic blood vessels. The symptoms of vitamin K2 deficiency are usually not obvious or could not be detected immediately.

There are three factors that can increase vitamin K2 dysfunction: malnutrition and deterioration of intestinal flora caused by using antibiotic; vitamin K2 malabsorption in the gut due to aging or chronic gastrointestinal (GI) infection; and age-related impaired bioavailability of vitamin K2. If a person's lifestyle is related to any of these factors, they should consider the possibility of vitamin K2 deficiency.