Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, and it is important for proper muscle, nerve, cardiovascular, and metabolic health. Excessive supplementation of magnesium may interfere with the absorption of Coumadin, a medication that your doctor may prescribe to decrease blood clotting. However, the direct link between magnesium supplements and decreased effectiveness of Coumadin is controversial, and it may depend on the molecular form of your magnesium supplement.
Magnesium
Green vegetables, nuts, seeds and unrefined grains are good dietary sources of magnesium, and eating a variety of these foods every day will provide your body with the necessary amount of magnesium in a highly bioavailable, or absorbable, form. Magnesium supplements, which consist of elemental magnesium and other elements, such as a salt, may be effective in restoring your levels if you are severely deficient. In addition, magnesium supplements may help a variety of conditions, such as heartburn, constipation, high blood pressure and insulin resistance.
Forms of Magnesium
The other elements used in your magnesium supplement may make it more effective for a particular condition. For example, magnesium citrate pulls water from the small intestine, which helps alleviate constipation, whereas magnesium chloride replenishes electrolytes. These elements may also influence the bioavailability of the magnesium. An article published in “Magnesium Research” in December 2001 found that magnesium chloride and magnesium lactate supplements were absorbed more efficiently than magnesium oxide supplements.
Coumadin
Coumadin, which is a brand name of the drug warfarin, reduces your blood’s ability to clot by inhibiting vitamin-K-dependent coagulation factors. This is useful for the treatment or prevention of venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or stroke in individuals who have irregular heart rhythms or prosthetic heart valves, or who have suffered a heart attack. Because Coumadin counteracts vitamin K’s action on blood clotting, excessive dietary or supplemental intake of vitamin K will directly reduce Coumadin’s effectiveness. However, supplementation of other nutrients, such as magnesium, will likely have a much less direct effect on Coumadin.
Magnesium Interaction with Coumadin
The form of your magnesium supplement may affect its interaction with Coumadin. For example, magnesium citrate and magnesium trisilicate may reduce the absorption of Coumadin. However, magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride do not have significant reported interactions. Although the reasons for the different interactions with Coumadin are not completely clear, the antacid and laxative properties of certain forms of magnesium may reduce the ability of your intestines to absorb Coumadin. The chemical composition of these forms of magnesium may also physically bind to the Coumadin and inhibit its activity in your blood.
Considerations
Although research suggests an association between certain forms of supplemental magnesium and reduced effectiveness of Coumadin, the cause-and-effect relationship between the two is unclear. Nevertheless, if you are prescribed Coumadin, you should check with your doctor before taking any supplement containing magnesium.
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