Vitamin K and Blood Thinners

Thursday, 22 July 2010 14:54

There appears to be a relationship between vitamin K and osteoporosis. The Nurses' Health Study that followed more than 72,000 women for 10 years found that women who didn't get enough vitamin K had a 30 percent greater risk of hip fractures than women who had a higher intake of the vitamin. However there is little clinical evidence that adding vitamin K supplementation is helpful in increasing bone density.

People who are at risk of having blood clots and who take prescription blood thinners, such as Coumadin (Warfarin), should avoid vitamin K supplements altogether  because this could reduce or even nullify the drug's blood thinning (anticoagulation) effects.  Furthermore, that people who take blood thinners are advised to lower the amount of vitamin K that they consume in their diets but to also keep their intake consistent from day to day. A small portion, one-third cup, of boiled spinach has about 300 mcg of vitamin K and the current recommendation for Vitamin K is 90-120 mcg/day. You can see how fast the vitamin K in dark leafy vegetables adds up.