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Contribution of vitamin K (phylloquinone) intake on warfarin therapy stability in elderly patients
Author(s) -
Ferland Guylaine,
Leblanc Cristina,
Presse Nancy
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.996.11
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin k , anticoagulant therapy , warfarin , analysis of variance , anticoagulant , coagulation , oral anticoagulant , atrial fibrillation
Warfarin (W) is a widely used oral anticoagulant and serves in the prevention of stroke and venous thromboembolism by blocking vitamin K (VK)‐dependent activation of coagulation factors. Despite its efficiency, stability of W therapy remains a daily challenge with bleeding a common side effect of the treatment. Although dietary VK has long been suggested to influence anticoagulant stability, data supporting its specific contribution remains limited. The present study was conducted to better understand the role of dietary VK as a determinant of W therapy stability. VK intake was assessed in 52 W‐treated elderly patients from an anticoagulation clinic using a validated food‐frequency questionnaire and compared to the stability of W therapy defined by a score (‘S’ score) based on the frequency of medical visits; higher ‘S’ scores indicating greater stability. VK was associated to stability of W therapy with patients consuming ≥200 μg/d VK showing more stability (p=0,019) than those with lower VK intakes. Patients who had been advised to ‘ Reduce their consumption of green vegetables' tended to have lower ‘S’ scores (ANOVA; p=0,057) and lower VK intakes than other patients (ANOVA; p=0,074). Results from this study support the notion that VK intake influences W anticoagulant therapy and that higher daily intakes contribute to more stable treatment. CL received a scholarship from Faculté de médecine, U de Mtl.