When your body starts to lose blood from an injury, colorless and sticky platelets start helping clot the blood at a wound site to prevent excessive bleeding. Thrombocytopenia is a condition that means having a low level of blood platelets. It often occurs due to a disorder such as leukemia or as a side effect of certain medications, according to MayoClinic.com. Although separate treatment may be necessary to improve your platelet count, you might also be able to improve your body's production of platelets by eating the right foods.
Low Platelet Symptoms
A deficiency in certain nutrients may cause symptoms such as easy bruising and bleeding, spontaneous nosebleeds, gum bleeding, pinpoint reddish spots on the skin, blood in your stool and urine and heavy menstrual periods. Infants with a deficiency may develop potentially fatal bleeding within the skull. Talk to your doctor if you believe you have any of these symptoms, but get emergency help if you have uncontrollable bleeding.
Vitamin K
The "K" in vitamin K comes from the German word "koagulation," referring to the formation of blood clots, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Vitamin K is a crucial nutrient that helps several proteins clot your blood. Infants need about 2 to 2.5 mcg of vitamin K per day, children need 30 to 60 mcg, teens need 75 mcg and adults need 75 to 120 mcg per day depending on factors such as gender and pregnancy. Eating foods vitamin K-rich foods such as spinach and kale may help prevent a deficiency, but your doctor may also prescribe a supplement if you are at higher risk.
Calcium
Your body also needs calcium to support healthy blood clot formation, according to the Franklin Institute. An insufficient amount of calcium your blood can cause your blood to take longer than normal to clot and may lead to uncontrollable bleeding. Most infants need 200 to 260 mg of calcium per day, most toddlers and preschoolers need 700 mg per day and most kids ages 4 to 18 need 1,000 to 1,300 mg per day. Adults generally need 1,000 mg each day, but women 51 and over and men 71 and over need about 1,200 mg. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt, tofu, dried beans, broccoli and spinach are rich in calcium. Some foods, such as cereals and orange juice, can also be fortified in calcium.
Folate
Insufficient intake of the B vitamin folate can lead to low levels of platelets, according to National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus. B vitamins are water-soluble, which means your body doesn't store folate in large quantities and you need to consistently have folate-rich foods or foods and supplements fortified with folic acid to maintain a healthy level. Folate occurs naturally in foods such as beans, legumes, citrus fruits, wheat bran, dark leafy greens, poultry, shellfish and liver. Most adults need about 400 mcg of folate per day, but talk to your doctor about taking folic acid supplements if you're capable of getting pregnant.
Risky Foods and Drinks
Some foods and drinks can negatively effect your platelet levels. For instance, some tonic waters and other foods and drinks that contain the crystalline alkaloid quinine can reduce your platelets. Foods such as blueberries, red and purple grape products, onions, garlic, ginseng and tomatoes have also been linked to blood-clotting interferences, according to the Platelet Disorder Support Association. Drinking alcohol can also slow your platelet production, particularly if you are eating foods that are low in folate, vitamin B-12 and iron. Discuss these potentially risky foods and drinks with your doctor. She may recommend that you avoid them or cut back if you have platelet problems.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Thrombocytopenia: Definition
- The Franklin Institute: Platelets: Sticky Situations
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Calcium: What You Need to Know
- Platelet Disorder Support Association: ITP Diet Suggestions
- "Official Publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada"; Quinine-Induced Thrombocytopenia; J. Lefkowitz, et al.; 1986
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Vitamin K
