Coagulation of the blood is a necessary function for your survival. Without this critical process, the smallest cut on your hand may lead to excessive blood loss. When the integrity of a blood vessel is breached, such as with a cut, the vessel constricts to reduce blood flow, and with vitamin K's help, platelets begin to clump together at the wound site to close it off, or "plug" it. Coumadin keeps this clumping from occurring.
Vitamin K
The clotting process of blood is dependent on adequate amounts of vitamin K. One critical function of vitamin K is called the coagulation cascade. This series of events begins with vitamin K binding with calcium to form a sequence of seven clotting factors that close, or plug, the wound. Once the wound is closed, the plug, or clot, is dissolved by the release of the enzyme, plasmin, and the wound heals over. Without vitamin K, the wound would continue to bleed.
Coumadin
Coumadin is an anti-coagulant drug, also know as warfarin. Coumadin is prescribed in patients where blood clots pose a serious threat, such as in heart disease, athrosclerosis and stroke. Coumadin "thins" the blood to keep it patent, flowing and free from clots. It does this by causing a deficiency in vitamin K and therefore preventing the coagulation cascade from occurring. While on Coumadin, it is important to have blood levels monitored closely and on a regular basis.
Vitamin K's Effect on Coumadin
Vitamin K works against Coumadin's effect of slowing down the coagulation cascade to prevent the formation of clots in your blood. Any change of intake of vitamin K, whether more or less, may potentially affect Coumadin's efficiency. It is important to keep the level of vitamin K in your body the same as it was when your Coumadin therapy began. Maintain consumption of the foods and supplements you normally eat. Always follow your doctor's advice and inform him or her of any change in diet or brand of supplement.
Multivitamins Free of Vitamin K
Any fluctuation in levels may work against your Coumadin therapy, so knowing which multivitamins contain vitamin K is important. The Ohio State College of Pharmacy provides this list of supplements that are free of vitamin K. They include Walgreen's Women's Way Scientifically Formulated for Active Women USP, One A Day Women's, Ocuvite plus, CVS Multivitamin + Minerals Extra Strength (USP), CVS Daily Multiple plus Iron (USP), Giant Eagle Multi-Vitamin with Beta Carotene Daily plus Iron USP and Giant Eagle Multi-Vitamin with Beta Carotene Daily USP. It is important to only take multivitamins under the direct supervision of your doctor, especially when taking Coumadin.
