Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that can be found in several different foods, such as vegetable oils, soybeans and fatty fish. They can also be obtained from flaxseed oil and fish oil supplements. These fatty acids have a number of beneficial effects on the body, but can be dangerous when combined with Coumadin.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Your body requires omega-3 fatty acids, but cannot make them on its own, so these "essential" polyunsaturated fatty acids must come from food or supplements, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Omega-3 fatty acids are needed for the brain to function properly; they also regulate growth and development. Many take fish oil or flaxseed oil to lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. These supplements may also benefit you if you have certain psychiatric problems or diseases caused by intense inflammation.
Coumadin
Coumarin, also known as generic warfarin, is a prescription medication that prevents blood clots. Blood clots can occur when your heartbeat gets irregular or is slowed by cardiovascular problems. The clots that form can then travel to your heart, lungs and brain, resulting in serious medical problems. Coumadin can be given to patients who have recently had a heart attack to prevent aberrant blood clots from forming and may also be used for patients who have a history of blood clots
Omega-3 and Coumadin
Both omega-3 fatty acids and Coumadin have the ability to thin your blood. Omega-3 fatty acids make it harder for platelets to stick together; platelet adhesion is one of the first steps in blood clot formation. Coumadin, on the other hand, interferes with the activity of vitamin K, a molecule that is critical for the chemical reactions that form blood clots. Because both of these substances affect blood clotting, taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements along with Coumadin can cause you to bleed or bruise excessively.
Treatment
If you take Coumadin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, your doctor may need to perform tests to measure the ability of your blood to clot. The combination of these two substances can cause an increase in a clotting test known as PT/INR. If this test shows that your blood is dangerously thin, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of omega-3 fatty acids or Coumadin, PTINR.com explains. Finding the correct dose may require some trial and error.
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