Coumadin, whose generic name is warfarin, is a blood thinner. If you are taking coumadin, your doctor likely talked to you about the importance of vitamin K intake in your diet. However, you probably do not pay close attention to how much vitamin K you are consuming in your normal diet, so you may feel confused about what exactly you as the patient need to do.
Coumadin Mechanism of Action
Coumadin increases your prothrombin time, or PT, which is the amount of time it takes to for your blood to clot; the higher your PT, the longer it takes for your blood to clot. High PTs are associated with increased risk of bleeding since your blood is thinner and takes longer to clot. Since vitamin K plays a major role in blood clotting, how much you ingest affects coumadin's effectiveness.
Vitamin K's Role in Clotting
Vitamin K antagonizes coumadin, but is an essential nutrient that is necessary to form clotting factors that allow your blood to clot. Proper blood clotting is essential in wound healing, like cuts and abrasions. A deficiency in vitamin K will result in thinner blood and freer bleeding in the event of an accident. In other words, you will bleed out more freely if you sustain an injury and are deficient in vitamin K.
Vitamin K Is Not Prohibited
While food sources of vitamin K will not necessarily be discouraged during coumadin therapy, you will be advised not to increase or decrease your vitamin K intake significantly. For example, if you consumed dark green, leafy vegetables once weekly before you were put on the coumadin therapy, you need to continue to intake this amount at this frequency while on coumadin. According to the journal "Chest," your physician will monitor you closely, order frequent labwork and may supplement your diet with oral vitamin K in an effort to achieve balance to obtain safe and desirable clotting time.
Keep Your Vitamin K Intake the Same
The bottom line is that if you are on coumadin, keep your diet consistent from week to week. Your doctor will monitor your blood levels to see if adjustments need to be made over the duration of your coumadin therapy. It is important talk to your doctor if you have any concerns regarding your coumadin therapy. Use the USDA's nutrient database to obtain vitamin K levels in foods you commonly consume. Also, work with a registered dietitian to help manage your diet as it relates to vitamin K.
