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Vitamins That Cause Bruises

Sep 2, 2011 | By Louise Tremblay

Bruises develop when capillaries -- the small blood vessels in your tissues -- rupture, causing blood to pool under your skin. Your body quickly begins to break down and clear away the pooled blood, and this digestion causes a blue, purple or black bruise to fade into a yellow or green lesion, then eventually heal completely. Over- or under-consumption of some vitamins can affect bleeding after injury, leading to the development of bruises.

Vitamin E

One vitamin that can potentially cause bruises is vitamin E. This nutrient plays a number of roles in maintaining your health. As an antioxidant, it protects your cells from disease-causing oxidative stress, helps your body regulate inflammation and helps control your blood thickness. Over-consuming vitamin E can inhibit blood coagulation, increasing your risk of bleeding. As a result, you might develop bruises from over-consuming vitamin E because your body might bleed internally in response to even mild injury.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Consuming large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids -- fats found in food such as flaxseed, walnuts and fish oils -- might also lead to bruising. Normally, omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in regulating inflammation, supporting cognitive functioning and maintaining your cardiovascular health. However, over-consuming omega-3 fatty acids can thin your blood, increasing your risk of abnormal bleeding that can cause bruising.

Intake Recommendations

Consuming a moderate amount of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can support your health without causing internal bleeding and bruising. In general, you should consume approximately 15 mg -- 22.5 international units, or IUs -- of vitamin E daily, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. In addition, men should consume 1.6 g of omega-3 fatty acids daily, while women should consume 1.1 g. If you suffer from a bleeding disorder, or you take blood-thinning medications, always check with your doctor before taking omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin E supplements to help prevent bruising.

Vitamin Deficiency and Bruises

In some cases, vitamin-related bruising can occur due to a vitamin deficiency, instead of a vitamin overdose. Vitamin K plays an important role in preventing abnormal bruising because the vitamin promotes blood coagulation. Your body relies on vitamin K to activate enzymes involved in the coagulation cascade -- a network of enzymatic reactions that lead to the formation of a blood clot. Vitamin K deficiency can cause bruising, as well as bleeding of the gums, digestive tract and nose.

References

Article reviewed by OmahaTyppo Last updated on: Sep 2, 2011

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