To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [nafex] Anticoagulants, Leafy Greens, & Vitamin K
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:18:52 -0500
For Elizabeth Hilborn:
Your impression of the effects of consumption of leafy greens (and other
fruits/vegetables high in vitamin K), seems to be at odds with my
understanding of the interaction of this vitamin with anticoagulants
such as warfarin. Vitamin K does not enhance these anticoagulant
effects, but rather works directly against them, which can elevate the
risks of stroke as a result.
That is why people who use blood thinners are advised to avoid excessive
consumption of green, leafy vegetables, which would tend to negate the
anticoagulant effects of the drugs. The operative factor is high levels
of vitamin K, which is particularly high in certain vegetables, but
present to some extent in nearly all fruits and vegetables. You might
wish to consult your sources of information on this topic before tucking
into large spinach salads on a regular basis if you are using blood
thinners. I don't know whether Goji berry is high in vitamin K, but if
it is, that would also be one to avoid for users of blood thinners.
Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
[nafex] Anticoagulants, Leafy Greens, & Vitamin K,
Don Yellman, 03/10/2012