Do blood thinners contribute to Osteoporosis?
According to researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands they do in children! Apparently they found that taking anticoagulants long-term such as coumarin derivatives (warfarin etc) may cause osteopenia in children with the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.
The researchers believe that the blood thinners inhibit vitamin K recycling, disturbing the equilibrium between bone formation and resorption.
Although this study was carried out in children one has to wonder if it is having the same effect on adults? I would suspect so.
Many adults are long term users of Warfarin and it is a commonly prescribed medicine. It is usually not desirable to mix warfarin with Vitamin K, so users really get a double 'whammy'. On one hand the warfarin is inhibiting the benefit of any Vitamin K that may be in the body and it is not practical to take additional Vitamin K because it is not compatable with the warfarin.
So, what do you do if your Doctor is insisting that you take warfarin?
Well, I think that you should talk to him/her about the possibility of taking Omega 3 fish oil instead which has evidence to support its ability to help as an anticoagulant. Even better combined the Omega 3 with a product such as Total Balance which contains natural blood thinners...for example gingko biloba.
To read the article about the study with children please click here
Reader Comments (4)
Warren, have there been any studies done that indicate how much fish oil one would have to take to be the equivalent of a standard dose of warfarin? I had to take it for ten months after developing blood clots in my calf after knee surgery, which could have killed me if they were not brought under control. If I were going to substitute fish oil under those circumstances I'd certainly want to know I was getting enough to do the same job. Thanks.
October 18, 2008 | Donald McFarland
Hi Donald,
That is a very good point. Thank you. I don't know the answer to this. I will ask Joanna our medical nutritionist to research this question and find an answer and post the answer here.
October 18, 2008 | Warren Matthews
I am 71, female, with osteoporosis. My vitamins, etc. are from Xtend-Life and I feel secure that I am getting the best. I was taking Total Balance Unisex for awhile and when the new premium came out I switched. Are there hormones in this which would help me at my age as I feel the older we women get, the less we produce, and perhaps we need to have this ingredient into our old age. Your opinion will be greatly appreciated on this and any suggestions otherwise to keep me healthy - I am still working 8 hrs a day in an office and I do not get much exercise due to knee problems.
October 23, 2008 | Lorena
Hi Lorena,
There are no hormones as such in either version of Total Balance. There are however in Total Balance Women precursors that help stimulate your body to produce more hormones.
The Total Balance Women's Premium contains everything that the Unisex version does plus these additional precursors. There is no downside in you taking these and there may well be an upside.
In the previous generation TB I would have suggested that you stay with the Unisex because the daily dose was the same but you would have been getting more of some of the other good nutrients because the space was not been taken up by these precursors. However, with the extra tablet a day of the Premium version this is no longer the case, so, if you can fit the Women's version into your monthly budget then I would suggest that you stay with it.
October 23, 2008 | Warren Matthews
Reader Comments (0)