Vitamin K Intake

[allodwick]

A study published this month in the journal Thrombosis and Hemostasis found that people who avoid vitamin K in their diet are the ones most affected by small changes in their vitamin K intake. An analogy is someone going into a dark room. If you turn on a three-way 30-60-90 watt lightbulb, the first 30 makes a huge difference. But going from 30 to 60 or 60 to 90 does not have as much apparent effect as going from 0 to 30. So it appears that people who take in a moderate amount of vitamin K daily are less affected by small changes in their diet. I know of one hematologist who recommends that her warfarin patients take a vitamin with vitamin K every day for this very reason. That way the people do not have to worry about whether or not they eat a few too many vegetables.

[Karlynn]

This is definately food for thought. I used to take a vitamin with K in it (about 10% of the RDA) and now I don't. I'll have to look back and see if I'm any less stable now.

[Nancy :)]

I also take vitamins with vitamin K. My cardioligist said I could take them but I had to do my protimes regularly until my INR was stable. Once I was stable, I never had a problem keeping it regular. Consistency is the key.

Nancyw :)

[JimL]

BUT, consuming Vitamin K regularly should also me a higher regular dosage of warfarin, shouldn't it? Did this study take into account any long term effects of a higher warfarin dosage? But thanks for the information. I'd prefer my Vitamin K in V-8 if that were advisable.

[allodwick]

No, the study did not look at the long term effects of vitamin K. The authors did not study how people got vitamin K, just that those who avoided vitamin K had difficulty managing warfarin.

Yes, it will result in a higher dose of warfarin. You have to be careful if you start taking in more vitamin K.

After over 50 years of warfarin use, nobody has shown long-term warfarin to have any ill effect, regardless of the dose, other than bleeding.

[tommy]

Al, your post makes great sense to me. The more "K" you eat on a regular basis, the less any small diet change (an extra adult beverage, or skipped salad) will impact the test result.

I've been avoiding meal replacements and energy "shakes" such as instant breakfast, slim fast because of the "K" content. My cardio's office specifially says to avoid them. What do you think?

Thanks.

[allodwick]

The only reason to avoid them is because they will require that your warfarin dose be adjusted. If you are monitoring it regularly, then you can make the necessary adjustments.

[tommy]

Thanks Al.