Coumadin & Vitamin K Foods

Vitamin K has many functions, including preventing cardiovascular disease, producing skin cells, and maintaining bone mass and thus preventing osteoarthritis. It also helps blood to clot normally. Coumadin is a brand name for the prescription drug warfarin, an anticoagulant that reduces the formation of blood clots. It works by blocking the synthesis of certain clotting factors involving vitamin K.

Tracking

• Because of the role of vitamin K plays in proper blood clotting, people should keep note of the amount of foods they typically eat with vitamin K at the time they begin taking Coumadin.

Vitamin K Foods

• The main food source of vitamin K is green leafy vegetables. See the Resources section for an extensive list of foods containing vitamin K.

Vitamin K Levels

• It's important for people taking Coumadin not to significantly change the amount of vitamin K consumed without talking with their doctor, because a Coumadin prescription is based on blood tests taken at the time.

Fluctuation

• In particular, if a person does not eat many foods with vitamin K or take vitamin supplements, then any addition of vitamin K can cause a large fluctuation in blood levels.

Misconceptions

• Although it may seem that vitamin K interferes with the purpose of Coumadin, people with a low vitamin K intake have more problems keeping their blood levels stable.