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Dietary Considerations in Coumadin® Patients
Coumadin® acts by impairing the utilization of Vitamin K. The liver requires Vitamin K for the manufacturing of certain key proteins in the native clotting mechanism. When Vitamin K is not made available, these clotting factors are not manufactured, and blood clotting is impaired. At the same time, oral intake of Vitamin K will thus counteract the medicinal purpose of Coumadin®, essentially acting as the antidote for Coumadin®. Sudden intake of large amounts of Vitamin K can diminish the effect of Coumadin®, permitting the blood to clot. Some physicians place Coumadin® patients on strict Low-Vitamin-K diets. Foods that are high in Vitamin K are discouraged. However, dietary restrictions rarely succeed over a long period of time. Most patients return to eating their favorite foods, gradually at first. Thus the more prudent approach for Coumadin® maintenance is to adjust the medication, not the diet. That is one of the very reasons for repeating the Pro-Time until a steady dose is found that provides the right anticoagulation regardless of the dietary intake of the patient. For your information, the following lists presents foods known to be high in Vitamin K Broccoli
Turnip greens
Cauliflower
Chick peas
Brussels sprouts
Green tea
Beef, pork, or chicken livers
Soybean oil
Soy protein products (including tofu) Vitamins A & E (large doses)
If your regular diet already contains these food items, Don't Change Your Eating Habits. Consistency in your daily eating pattern is the key. If you move to a new climate, or change your eating habits for any other reason, a new series of Pro-Times will be needed to make certain that your Coumadin® requirement has not changed. However, even if it has changed, the best option is to change the dose which you take. Your Diet & Vitamin K
I. Rationale: Why do I need to pay attention to my diet while I am on Coumadin®?
A. Coumadin works to keep your blood from clotting by decreasing the availability of vitamin K. Vitamin K
helps your blood to clot. These are opposing actions.
B. Excessive vitamin K intake can interfere with the Coumadin® and allow your blood to remain susceptible to clots. Likewise, if you eat too little vitamin K, the excess medication may cause your blood to become too thin. C. Your medication will be adjusted to the amount of vitamin K typically in your diet. If you suddenly increase or decrease the amount of vitamin K in your diet, your medication will not work properly. II. What is the best diet to follow while I am on Coumadin®?
A. A healthy, low fat diet following the Food Guide Pyramid is the best diet to follow. B. It is important for you to keep the vitamin K content of your diet consistent. The amount of vitamin K you
eat affects the amount of Coumadin® you require.
C. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you change your diet. The medication will need to be adjusted to the amount of vitamin K in your diet. III. Does this mean I should avoid foods with a lot of vitamin K?
Absolutely not! Some foods that are high in vitamin K (i.e. leafy, green vegetables, broccoli, and cauliflower)
can contribute to a healthy diet. Your efforts should be focused on keeping your intake of vitamin K consistent
from day to day. The first step is to evaluate your typical intake of vitamin K foods by reviewing the food list in
this packet.
V. What to do from here.
Evaluate your typical vitamin K intake by reviewing the food list provided. The list contains foods that are known to be high in vitamin K, as well as a few others that are not very high, but are often asked about by Coumadin® patients. If you do not see a particular food on the list, it most likely contains very little vitamin K, however, be sure to ask you dietitian about the food if you are concerned. VI. Using the Vitamin K food list:
A. First, review the list to find foods that you are presently eating. Each list is identical. The first organizes
foods from the highest vitamin K content to lowest, while the second is in alphabetical order. Observe the
amount of vitamin K contained in the foods you eat. If you typically eat a larger portion than what is listed, be
sure to increase the vitamin K value proportionally. (i.e. there is 40ug of vitamin K in ½ cup of lettuce, but you
eat 2 cups worth in your salad, so you would actually have 160ug of vitamin K in total). Add up the total
amount of vitamin K that you typically consume in a day. Whatever it may be, 100, 200, 300, 400ug, etc., your
job is to keep this daily intake as consistent as possible. By selecting combinations of foods, and/or adjusting
portion sizes you should be able to consume about the same amount of vitamin K each day.
B. If you should ever decide to dramatically change your typical daily intake of vitamin K, be sure to inform
your Doctor or pharmacist BEFORE making the change. They will most likely need to adjust your Coumadin®
dosage.
CAUTION -:the following should be taken only with your physician’s approval, because they also thin your
blood, thus increasing the effect of your medication: alcohol, garlic pills, fish oil capsules, vitamin E.
* Vitamin K tablets can also interfere with your Coumadin® medication. Be sure to get your physician’s
approval, if you take vitamin K tablets or a multi-vitamin pill with vitamin K included.
If you should have any additional questions or concerns regarding your daily intake of vitamin K, please contact a nurse at phone number (205) 926-2992. Vitamin K Content of Selected Foods
Vit. K Content
Vit. K Content
Food Item
Portion Size
Food Item
Portion Size
** Current analytical findings indicate that the brew form green tea leaves has negligible vitamin K content.

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