Is vitamin k a blood thinner

Why Vitamin K Can Be Dangerous If You Take Warfarin – Cleveland Clinic

If you are a heart patient who is taking blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin®), you need to be careful not to overdo vitamin K.

Blood thinners are often prescribed for people at risk for developing harmful blood clots.

If you suddenly increase your intake of vitamin K intake in your diet, it can have an unintended consequence. It can actually decrease the effect of warfarin, says cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD.

“This is because vitamin K is an essential part of the chemical process for forming blood clots in your body,” she says.

Don’t cut vitamin K out completely

You don’t want to cut out vitamin K completely, as it is present in a variety of healthy, nutrient-rich foods. These include leafy greens and many vegetables. Instead, be smart about how much vitamin K you consume, be consistent, and work with your doctor to find just the right balance.

For example, if you eat a diet rich in vitamin K, you may need to check your blood a little more frequently or take more warfarin. If you change your diet and eat fewer foods containing vitamin K, you may need to take less warfarin.

Work with your doctor to find the right dose for you.

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Here are three tips to help you safely manage your vitamin K intake:

1. Pay attention to food labels to keep your vitamin K intake consistent

“Vitamin K foods can be included in your diet on a regular basis as long as you are mindful of the portion and keep the overall intake of vitamin K-rich foods consistent, says Julia Zumpano, RD, LD.

For instance, you can choose to have a vitamin K rich food every day, every week, or three times in a week — as long as you keep this portion and frequency consistent, she says.

“If necessary, you can discuss including regular sources of vitamin K in your diet with your doctor in case your warfarin dosage would need to be adjusted,” she adds. You will want to tell your physician how often you eat foods high in vitamin K and how much of those foods you eat. Being knowledgeable about vitamin K is a key to managing it in your diet.

There are a variety of vegetables that contain lower amounts of vitamin K. These include:

Tomatoes.
Peppers.
Carrots.
Cauliflower.
Cucumbers.
Potatoes.
Sweet potatoes.
Squash (both summer and winter).

Iceberg lettuce is low and romaine is also fairly low, so most people can eat either if them daily. In addition, be sure to read labels on multivitamins as they have varying amounts of vitamin K. Talk to your doctor about what vitamins you should take.

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2. Beware of herbal supplements and omega-3 supplements (EPA/DHA)

You may need to avoid certain supplements and vitamins to keep your blood values stable. Talk to your doctor about any and all supplements you take to be sure they are not interfering with your blood thinners.

3. Take blood thinners in consistent way

Another way to manage how well your blood thinners work is to take your dose of warfarin at the same time each day, and from day to day, make sure your vitamin K intake is consistent, Dr. Cho says.

To be sure you’re on track, have your blood values checked regularly (usually once per month with your physician; this may be more often during dose adjusting).

Vitamin K in popular foods

Below, find more details on the amount of vitamin K present in different foods, including leafy greens, vegetables and other foods as provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

When it comes to blood thinners, the more you know the better you can manage your diet. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Vitamin K | The Nutrition Source

The Nutrition Source

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in two forms. The main type is called phylloquinone, found in green leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale, and spinach. The other type, menaquinones, are found in some animal foods and fermented foods. Menaquinones can also be produced by bacteria in the human body. [1]

Vitamin K helps to make various proteins that are needed for blood clotting and the building of bones. Prothrombin is a vitamin K-dependent protein directly involved with blood clotting. Osteocalcin is another protein that requires vitamin K to produce healthy bone tissue.

Vitamin K is found throughout the body including the liver, brain, heart, pancreas, and bone. It is broken down very quickly and excreted in urine or stool. Because of this, it rarely reaches toxic levels in the body even with high intakes, as may sometimes occur with other fat-soluble vitamins.

Recommended Amounts

AI: An “adequate intake” (AI) is used when there is not enough evidence to establish a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The AI amount is estimated to ensure nutritional adequacy. For adults 19 years and older, the AI for vitamin K is 120 micrograms (mcg) daily for men and 90 mcg for women and for those who are pregnant or lactating.

Vitamin K and HealthBlood clots

Vitamin K helps to make four of the 13 proteins needed for blood clotting, which stops wounds from continuously bleeding so they can heal. People who are prescribed anticoagulants (also called blood thinners) to prevent blood clots from forming in the heart, lung, or legs are often informed about vitamin K. Because of its blood clotting action, vitamin K has the potential to counteract the effects of blood thinning medications. A common method that estimates blood levels of vitamin K is measuring prothrombin time (PT), or how long it takes for blood to clot. People on anticoagulant medication such as warfarin (Coumadin) may be advised to eat a consistent amount of vitamin K from food and supplements. Although minor changes in vitamin K intake rarely affects PT, large and sudden variations in intake can alter PT levels and interfere with the medication’s effectiveness. Vitamin K is not a required listed nutrient on the Nutrition Facts label, but people taking anticoagulant medication are usually provided information about foods containing vitamin K from their health care provider.

Bone health

Vitamin K is involved with the production of proteins in bone, including osteocalcin, which is needed to prevent the weakening of bones. Some studies have shown that higher vitamin K intakes are associated with a lower incidence of hip fractures and low bone density. In addition, low blood levels of vitamin K have been linked with low bone density. [2] A report from the Nurses’ Health Study suggests that women who get at least 110 mcg of vitamin K a day are 30% less likely to break a hip than women who get less than that. [3] Among the nurses, eating a serving of lettuce or other green, leafy vegetable a day cut the risk of hip fracture in half when compared with eating one serving a week. Data from the Framingham Heart Study also showed an association between high vitamin K intake and reduced risk of hip fracture in men and women and increased bone mineral density in women. [4, 5] However, the results of clinical trials and meta-analyses have been conflicting whether vitamin K supplements reduce bone fractures. [1] This may be due to a variety of other factors that affect bone health, including a lack of calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise, all of which might mask a benefit of vitamin K supplementation.

Heart disease

A few studies have researched the role of vitamin K for heart health. Vitamin K is involved with the production of matrix Gla proteins (MGP), which help to prevent calcification or hardening of heart arteries, a contributor to heart disease. Because research in this area is very limited, additional studies are needed before a specific amount of vitamin K beyond the standard recommendation is proposed for this condition.

Food Sources

Phylloquinone
- Green leafy vegetables including collard and turnip greens, kale, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuces
- Soybean and canola oil
- Salad dressings made with soybean or canola oil
- Fortified meal replacement shakes
Menaquinones
- Natto (fermented soybeans)
- Smaller amounts in meat, cheese, eggs

Signs of Deficiency

Vitamin K deficiency in adults is rare, but may occur in people taking medications that block vitamin K metabolism such as antibiotics, or in those with conditions that cause malabsorption of food and nutrients. A deficiency is also possible in newborn infants because vitamin K does not cross the placenta, and breast milk contains a low amount. The limited amount of blood clotting proteins at birth increases the risk of bleeding in infants if they are not given vitamin K supplements. The following are the most common signs of a deficiency.

A longer time for blood to clot or a prolonged prothrombin time (as measured in a physician’s office)
Bleeding
Hemorrhaging
Osteopenia or osteoporosis

Did You Know?

Antibiotic medicines may destroy vitamin-K-producing bacteria in the gut, thereby potentially decreasing vitamin K levels, especially if taking the medicine for more than a few weeks. People who have a poor appetite while using long-term antibiotics may be at greater risk for a deficiency, and may benefit from a vitamin K supplement.
Because vitamin K is fat-soluble, it is best to eat vitamin K foods with some fat to improve absorption. So, drizzle some olive oil or add diced avocado to your favorite leafy green salad!

Vitamins and Minerals

References

National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin K Fact Sheet for Health Professionals https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-HealthProfessional/. Accessed 6/25/2018.
Weber P. Vitamin K and bone health. Nutrition. 2001;17:880–7.
Feskanich D, Weber P, Willett WC, Rockett H, Booth SL, Colditz GA. Vitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:74–9.
Booth SL, Tucker KL, Chen H, et al. Dietary vitamin K intakes are associated with hip fracture but not with bone mineral density in elderly men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:1201–8.
Booth SL, Broe KE, Gagnon DR, et al. Vitamin K intake and bone mineral density in women and men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77:512–6.

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The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.

Doctors told how vitamin K reduces mortality from COVID-19

A normal level of vitamin K in the body can save a person from death from coronavirus, doctors say. According to nutritionists, it ensures blood clotting in the body, controls inflammation, and also protects the intestinal microflora, on which the immune response to the virus depends. About what foods contain an important vitamin and what symptoms indicate its deficiency - in the material of Gazeta.Ru.

Doctors at a hospital in the city of Nijmegen in the Netherlands have found a link between low levels of vitamin K in patients and serious complications from coronavirus. This was reported by Dutch News.

“We found that people who died from the virus or were admitted to intensive care due to complications had much lower levels of vitamin K compared to healthy people. We think there is a link between vitamin K and disease progression,” said pulmonologist Rob Jansen.

Coronavirus causes massive inflammation in the lungs and severely damages the elastic fibers that allow us to breathe, experts say. “In response to this, your body tries to produce more protective protein for these fibers, but for this it needs vitamin K. Without such protection, the risk of death increases many times,” he said.

The clinic plans to continue research on the relationship between the coronavirus and vitamin K, which may help alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease. However, it should be borne in mind that some people should take it with increased caution or refuse to supplement this vitamin at all.

“It must be safe. For example, people who have thrombosis or who are taking blood-thinning drugs cannot take it, ”the doctor emphasized.

However, there are a lot of useful properties of vitamin K that can help in the fight against coronavirus. Natalya Zhilinskaya, head of the laboratory of vitamins and minerals at the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology, told Gazeta.Ru about this. According to her, the content of the vitamin in the body in the right amount normalizes blood clotting.

“The main function of vitamin K is to maintain normal blood clotting. If it is not enough in the body, then with any damage - internal or external - it is very difficult to stop the blood, ”the specialist explained.

However, with COVID-19, it can play a slightly different role, says dietitian Elena Solomatina.

“Because of the coronavirus, proteins that are responsible for blood clotting are most often damaged, so many patients die from thrombosis. It often happens that the virus infects red blood cells, as a result of which the transfer of oxygen is difficult, and tissue respiration is disturbed. Vitamin K, in turn, regulates the normal transport of oxygen in the blood and also helps the body survive in an oxygen-free environment. It enhances the body's resistance to oxygen starvation - in fact, this is what happens with coronavirus, especially with the pulmonary form, ”she told Gazeta.Ru.

According to Zhilinskaya, vitamin K is usually deficient in the body of people with cardiovascular disease. Perhaps this is what puts their lives at risk during the coronavirus. “Since vitamin K is involved in blood regulation, it also contributes to the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Due to the fact that it is usually not enough for people with cardiovascular diseases, its deficiency can complicate the course of the coronavirus, and from this position, the cores are at risk, ”the expert said.

In addition, as nutritionist Solomatina noted, vitamin K also normalizes the state of the intestinal microflora, which suffers greatly when infected with coronavirus.

“Microflora is also a living organism, in conditions of hypoxia it begins to die. It is important to remember that the first link of our immunity is in the intestines. Therefore, the reaction of our immune system will directly depend on the state of our microbiome,” says Solomatina.

According to the expert, vitamin K is also supposed to relieve severe inflammation that occurs as a result of our body's response to coronavirus.

“Vitamin K stimulates the production of interleukins-6 responsible for the production of antibodies, immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes, stimulates the production of somatotropic (tissue repair) hormone. It improves the transmission of nerve impulses, preventing complications from the central nervous system, providing a connection between the brain and other organs, ”concluded the nutritionist.

Sports nutritionist and nutritionist Irina Pisareva also explained to Gazeta.Ru that vitamin K is necessary for the body to maintain healthy bones and blood vessels.

“Vitamin K is one of those vitamins whose daily dosage depends not on a person's sex or age, but on their weight. So for 1 kilogram of weight, 1 microgram of vitamin is required. Sources of vitamin K include greens, nettles, white and cauliflower, broccoli, olive oil, cottage cheese, milk. You can replenish the norm of the vitamin along with wheat bran, cereals and fruits. It is useful to eat kiwi, bananas and avocados, ”the specialist noted.

At the same time, vitamin K is able to synthesize itself in the human body. As Pisareva noted, when leading a healthy lifestyle, vitamin K deficiency is a rare occurrence, since a lot of the nutrient comes from food and is synthesized by the intestinal microflora. However, some factors disrupt the normal absorption of the substance in the body, provoking the development of K - hypovitaminosis, the nutritionist warns.

In the absence of the coronavirus, vitamin K deficiency can also adversely affect the body. First of all, it leads to high fatigue, weakness, indigestion, anemia and bleeding gums.

“If you have any of these signs, you need to reconsider your lifestyle and diet. Perhaps this is due to a lack of vitamin K, ”concluded Pisareva.

Why is vitamin K2 deficiency dangerous?

For any ailment, the first answer from friends is a lack of vitamins. A, B, C, D, E are the most famous vitamins. And all? Few people know that about 60% of the population is deficient in vitamin K ₂ . You can live for years and not know that your body needs this vitamin. And the longer you live in ignorance, the more serious problems await you in the future.

K

₂ - not well-known, but very important vitamin

Vitamin K ₂ remained little studied for a long time. In 1929, a scientist from Denmark, H. Dam, discovered vitamin K, and in 1939, American scientists found that vitamin K has two forms - phylloquinone (K ₁ ) and menaquinone (K ₂ ). K ₁ has a positive effect on blood clotting, hence the name - coagulation vitamin. A K ₂ is a key player in the regulation of metabolic processes and the distribution of calcium in the body.

Top Essential Functions of Vitamin K

₂

Strengthens bone tissue. Vitamin K ₂ activates the production of the most important protein (along with collagen) osteocalcin, which increases bone density, prevents osteoporosis and reduces the risk of fractures.
It has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. By acting on protein compounds, vitamin K ₂ prevents the deposition of calcium crystals on the walls of blood vessels. It removes excess calcium from the vessels and redistributes them to more necessary places. K ₂ seems to cleanse the vessels from plaques, thins the blood, strengthens the arteries and vessel walls, thereby reducing the risk of calcification, stroke and the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Improves absorption of calcium. Menaquinone ensures the correct metabolism of calcium - delivers it to the intended destination in the bone tissue, retains calcium in the bones, which is especially important for older people, when calcium rapidly begins to be washed out. And also K ₂ prevents its deposition in blood vessels, kidneys and joints.
Prevents early aging. By preventing the calcification of the elastin protein, which is responsible for maintaining the firmness and elasticity of the skin, vitamin K ₂ improves its structure, prevents premature appearance of wrinkles and thus maintains youth.

What is the risk of vitamin K deficiency

₂

If vitamin K ₂ is not enough in the body, bone mineral density decreases. They become fragile, posture is disturbed, bone, joint pain, osteoporosis appear. There may be nosebleeds and bleeding gums, a tendency to bruising. The risk of strokes and cardiovascular diseases increases.

Who needs an additional appointment K

₂

Healthy to maintain normal bone health. Even with a balanced diet, it is worth taking K ₂ for proper absorption of the vitamin from food.
Older and middle-aged people, especially women during menopause, when bone mass and density are rapidly lost with age.
Those who take calcium supplements in the form of carbonate. Calcium carbonate itself is practically not absorbed on its own and is even deposited in blood vessels, kidneys and joints. To prevent this, an additional intake of vitamin K ₂ is simply necessary.
For those taking statins. Studies show that statins interfere with vitamin K synthesis ₂
Anyone who adheres to any kind of diet, especially strict ones.
Athletes, as they experience increased stress, often injure ligaments and bones.

How to get vitamin K

₂

K ₂ enters the body mainly from animal products - egg yolk, liver, dairy products, fermented fatty foods, soybeans. Partially vitamin K ₂ is synthesized by intestinal microorganisms. But unfortunately, often the synthesis of K ₂ is difficult due to disturbed intestinal microflora or frequent use of antibiotics.

You can also increase your vitamin levels by supplementing with K ₂ supplements. They are convenient in that they calculate the exact dosage of the substance, and you will be sure that K ₂ really enters your body, which cannot be guaranteed when eating food.

Criteria for the correct choice of the drug K

₂

Form K ₂. This vitamin has several forms, but MK-7 has the highest level of bioavailability. Taking a package of vitamin K ₂ on the pharmacy shelf, pay attention to the designation MK-7 on it. If the manufacturer does not indicate the form K ₂, the additive probably contains MK-4. What is the difference? Menaquinone MK-7 remains active longer than MK-4. It circulates in the blood for about 72 hours and during this time it manages to reach all organs, including bone tissue.

Reliable manufacturer of raw materials. Gnosis (Italy) is the only company in the world that produces all-natural menaquinone-7 ¹ . Gnosis uses a unique, patented method to produce K ₂ by biofermenting the natto food product, soybeans. No chemicals are used in production. This production method is only adapted by Gnosis ¹ !

All these criteria are taken into account in the drug from the pharmaceutical company "Evalar" - " Calcium activator » from the Anti-Age line ² .