Can anyone suggest a user-friendly gu... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

49,267 members31,182 posts

Can anyone suggest a user-friendly guide to how different foods affect warfarin?

Clickyvalve profile image
7 Replies

Having had a surprising spike in my INR, which I now think was the result of eating a mango, I'm looking for an easy-to-follow but comprehensive guide to foods that alter the effect of warfarin on INR levels. The lists I have found though google are either unhelpfully short or very complex and full of US terms and brand names. Something UK specific would be great. So far I've not found anything particularly useful on either the NHS or BHF websites.

Written by
Clickyvalve profile image
Clickyvalve
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies
Shar28 profile image
Shar28

Hi, have a look at the AF Association website. They have some very useful factsheets about food and drug interactions with Warfarin. Here’s the link

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

All the b3st. X

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Hello and welcome to the forum!

With Warfarin there are basically two ways to stabilise INR::

i) Keep to a fairly stable diet which includes foods with Vitamin K.

ii) Avoid all foods with Vitamin K.

Personally I would opt for the first option as many foods containing Vitamin K like liver, spinach, broccoli, etc. are also good sources of iorn. Once you find a list of foods to be careful with you can plan accordingly. Good luck!

judes profile image
judes

Will second what MichaelJH says you need your Vit K

They key here is consistency, same amount of Vit K each and every week. For instance I always have broccoli with my Sunday roast, don’t do liver buts that’s cos I don’t like it!

I’m not advocating alcohol but the odd glass is not in my opinion going to hurt. When we finally get to watch a live footy match in a stadium I will be having a pie and a pint! It’s tradition.

I’ve been on warfarin for over 20 years and have learnt that no matter what you do sometimes your INR is going to be having a laugh at you. Tho I did find out recently that things like ginger and pontefract cakes will effect your INR tho me thinks you’d have to eat a lot

Be careful, be consistent you will get there

J

gladliz profile image
gladliz

Been on warfarin for past 9 years and advice given by my INR nurses and others is to carry on as normal. If you have always eaten broccoli, cabbage etc, continue to do so, your body is used to it. If you have never eaten them and suddenly start that's when problems occur. Cran berries are a no-no but never heard about Mangos.

Clickyvalve profile image
Clickyvalve in reply to gladliz

I happened to mention the mango to my dentist and she told me also to be careful of turmeric. That prompted me to look up ginger, which I do use in cooking from time to time. Both, it seems, are thought to increase the likelihood of raised INR.

Clickyvalve profile image
Clickyvalve

Thanks to everyone who has replied and shared their experience. Just to clarify, I am largely sticking to a consistent diet and keeping an eye on my vitamin K intake. I'm pleased to say that my INR is remarkably stable. However, when presented with something unusual that I do not normally eat, such as that mango, I would like a quick and easy way to find out if it is likely to affect INR and in which direction. Perhaps there's a gap in the market for a handy phone app, like the ones that tell you about fat/salt/sugar in different foods.

Clickyvalve profile image
Clickyvalve

Thanks for your reply. I didn't realise that non-food changes can affect INR so dramatically. I'll watch out for that in future.

You may also like...

The choice of mechanical valves

valve, as it can have a lower INR. My surgeon uses CarboMedics. I found even surgeons' opinions...

I still feel depressed a year after surgery. Can anyone suggest ways of overcoming this please?

Warfarin and vitamin D

I’m also on warfarin and have been getting very high INRs of 4.9. Has anyone else found vitamin D...

Severe arrhythmia but only minor symptoms

posted on this particular forum rather than BHF. During a routine checkup in 2019 I was found to...

Coaguchek XL lancets discontinued

mechanical heart valve and have been self testing my INR since 2012 with a Coaguchek. I have...