Vit K2 and Strontium supplements and risk of blood clots

peggy_j

In case anyone doesn't know, both Vit K2 and Strontium raise the risk of blood clots, so if you're considering taking these supplements, you might want to check with your doctor first.

In my case, my MO/hematologist (blood doc) dis-recommended Vit K2 (I'm stil on tamox, and have 1 copy of the Factor V Leiden gene). She thought the risk of clots from Strontium wasn't that high, but she deferred to my endocrinologist on the efficacy for bone health.

BTW, Factor V Leiden in not that unusual (1 in 6 Caucasians has one copy) but it's rarely tested, and I had to really push to get tested. If you have 1 copy, your risk of clots increases 5-8 times. If you have two copies of the gene, your risk of clots increases 80x. (and, my middle aged, you would have had symptoms and clots by now). Just an FYI.

corky60

I am so glad that you posted. The couple of times I tried K2 my legs hurt. I wear support hose and I just knew that it made my blood too thick. The same thing happened with strontium. I pricked my finger on a rose thorn and it barely bled, clotted instantly. And again, the same thing happens when I eat kale.

I have never been tested for Factor V Leiden. Does the problem with K2 and strontium indicate I should be tested?

Spookiesmom

vit K is what hemophiliacs use to stop bleeding. If you take Coumadin/warfarin you need to watch your diet for foods high in K

peggy_j

corky, I'm sorry but I don't know whether your symptoms mean you should be tested. In my experience, doctors really don't like to test for this. I don't know why. I pushed my MO to test me before I would agree to start tamox. (unfortunately, a friend's SIL died of a PE while on tamox. She had two copies of the Factor V Leiden gene and a history of blood clots.No idea why she was put on tamox). But even with my health history, my mom's doc was very resistant to test her for it. (I inherited it from either my mom or dad, so there was a 50% chance I got it from her. Hello.). I've had two surgeries since it's been on my medical record and each time the surgeon noted it and took extra precautions. I have no idea why they don't test for this.

ChiSandy

K (aka K1) & K2 are different. K1 is the factor found in leafy greens, green tea, olive oil, etc., and is primarily responsible for maintaining normal coagulation (and since it is easy to get enough via foods, is hardly ever prescribed for those without bleeding disorders). K2 is a variant (found in fermented foods) that has osteoprotective effects that K doesn’t. As for the blood clots, I take low-dose aspirin and am not on Tamoxifen. As far as diet while on warfarin/Coumadin, the goal is not avoidance of but rather “consistent amounts” of stuff like spinach, greens and other stuff higher in Vit. K. This was explained to me when I was on warfarin after both my knee replacement surgeries and I went ballistic when the rehab center served me spinach. If intake of these foods is consistent, then it should not affect periodic INR readings (which determine tweaks in anticoagulant dosage).