Eating a steady amount of vitamin K when you take warfarin (Coumadin)

Introduction

You need vitamin K to help your blood to clot and to keep your bones strong. If you are taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin), you will need to keep the amount of vitamin K in your diet steady. If you vary the amount of vitamin K too much, your doctor may have to change your dose of warfarin often.

Most people who take warfarin can eat a normal diet. But it is important not to suddenly eat a lot more or a lot less food that is high in vitamin K than you normally do. Make sure you get about the same amount of vitamin K each day.

This Actionset can help you learn what foods contain vitamin K and how to eat the right amount of these foods so you can get the most benefit from your medicine.

Key points

• Warfarin helps prevent dangerous blood clots.
• Warfarin works best if your intake of vitamin K stays about the same each day.
• By learning what foods contain vitamin K, you can make sure you get about the same amount each day so your medicine can do its job.

 What foods contain vitamin K?
 Why is it important to get a steady amount of vitamin K?
 How to get a steady amount of vitamin K
 Where to go from here

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated May 23, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Karin M. Lindholm, DO - Neurology
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