Great question! After having a stent placed, it's very common to be prescribed blood thinners to help prevent clots from forming around the stent. If that's the case, vitamin K intake is something to be mindful of — because it can affect how well those medications work.
The answer really depends on which blood thinner Show Full Answer
Great question! After having a stent placed, it's very common to be prescribed blood thinners to help prevent clots from forming around the stent. If that's the case, vitamin K intake is something to be mindful of — because it can affect how well those medications work.
The answer really depends on which blood thinner you're taking:
- Warfarin (Coumadin) — Vitamin K directly interferes with how this medication works. Sudden increases in vitamin K can make warfarin less effective, raising your clot risk.
- DOACs like apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto) — These are less affected by vitamin K, but caution is still advised with high-dose supplements. The key takeaway is consistency. You don't necessarily need to avoid vitamin K entirely, but keeping your intake steady from week to week is important. Sudden big changes — like starting a supplement — can throw things off balance.
Foods that contain vitamin K2 include:
- Egg yolks
- Certain cheeses
- Fermented foods like natto
Always talk to your doctor before adding a vitamin K supplement or making big dietary changes. They may want to monitor your blood levels more closely, especially at first.
May 31
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