Can Vitamin C Thin Your Blood

How Vitamin C Supports Skin Care

Vitamin Calso known as ascorbic acidis a water-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy. Topical vitamin C is clinically proven to have a wide range of clinical applications thanks to its antioxidant, antiaging, antipigmentary properties. This potent nutrient offers many benefits for the skin, including the potential to:

• Make collagen, used to keep skin youthful and plump
• Heal wounds
• Reduce the appearance of dark spots
• Prevent premature aging

Who Can And Cannot Take Apixaban

Apixaban can be taken by adults aged 18 and over.

Apixaban is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to apixaban or any other medicines in the past
• are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant apixaban can be harmful to your baby
• have liver problems
• have had a recent spinal injury or surgery
• are taking any other medicines that affect blood clotting, such as warfarin
• have any injuries that are currently bleeding a lot, such as a wound or a stomach ulcer
• are taking the herbal remedy St John’s wort
• have antiphospholipid syndrome, a condition that affects the immune system and makes you more likely to get blood clots

Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide To Using Them Safely

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a free booklet and a video about blood thinner medicines. Staying Active and Healthy with Blood Thinners, a 10-minute video, features easy-to-understand explanations of how blood thinners work and why it’s important to take them correctly. Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely, a 24-page booklet, explains how these pills can help prevent dangerous blood clots from forming and what to expect when taking these medicines.

• BookletBlood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely

You May Like: How Much Daily Vitamin D Should I Take

Scaly Dermatitis Vitamin B7 Deficiency

Biotin plays an important role in the metabolism of energy, glycogen synthesis, fat synthesis, and amino acid metabolism. Its rare to be deficient in this vitamin since its widely found in foods. However, certain habits like the consumption of raw egg whites, which contain a protein that inhibits the absorption of biotin, may lead to a deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin B7 deficiency can include pale skin, scaly dermatitis, and dry skin as well as hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, and muscle pain.

RDA: 30 mcg/d for adults10

• Beef liver, peanuts, egg yolks, chicken, and mushrooms feature among the good sources of biotin.11

Chronic Inflammation And Oxidative Stress

Vitamin C is one of the bodys most important water-soluble antioxidants.

It helps prevent cellular damage by neutralizing free radicals that can cause oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.

Oxidative stress and inflammation have been linked to many chronic illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes, so reducing levels is likely beneficial (

53 ).

One study found that adults with the lowest blood levels of vitamin C were nearly 40% more likely to develop heart failure within 15 years than those with the highest blood levels, even though they were not deficient in vitamin C .

Summary Regular consumption of antioxidants like vitamin C is associated with health benefits, while low intakes may increase inflammation and oxidative stress.

Don’t Miss: What Vitamins Build Immune System

Know Which Vitamin Helps In Blood Clotting

Coagulation, or blood clotting, is an integral process in the body. If you have landed on this page searching which vitamin helps in blood clotting, you will get your answer right away! It is vitamin K!

It can also be considered a top vitamin for blood circulation in the legs. Continue reading to know about how this vitamin helps in blood clotting and all related facts!

How And When To Take Apixaban

It’s very important to take apixaban as your doctor has told you.

It’s usual to take it twice a day. Try to take it at the same time every day.

Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. Apixaban can be taken with or without food.

If you have trouble swallowing pills, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

You can crush apixaban tablets and mix them with water, apple juice or apple purée. Swallow this mixture straight away.

Don’t Miss: How Long Does A Vitamin B Shot Last

Pay Attention To Food Labels To Keep Your Vitamin K Intake Consistent

Vitamin K foods can be included in your diet on a regular basis as long as you are mindful of the portion and keep the overall intake of vitamin K-rich foods consistent, says .

For instance, you can choose to have a vitamin K rich food every day, every week, or three times in a week as long as you keep this portion and frequency consistent, she says.

If necessary, you can discuss including regular sources of vitamin K in your diet with your doctor in case your warfarin dosage would need to be adjusted, she adds. You will want to tell your physician how often you eat foods high in vitamin K and how much of those foods you eat. Being knowledgeable about vitamin K is a key to managing it in your diet.

There are a variety of vegetables that contain lower amounts of vitamin K. These include:

• Tomatoes.
• Sweet potatoes.
• Squash .

Iceberg lettuce is low and romaine is also fairly low, so most people can eat either if them daily. In addition, be sure to read labels on multivitamins as they have varying amounts of vitamin K. Talk to your doctor about what vitamins you should take.

Eczema Vitamin B3 Deficiency

Niacin is vital as its required for the body to convert fat, protein, and carbohydrates into energy. It also helps keep your skin healthy and supports the digestive and nervous systems. Niacin deficiency causes a condition known as pellagra which is characterized mainly by the symptoms of dermatitis , dementia, and diarrhea. This condition leads to scaly sores, redness, and itchiness on your skin and can cause your tongue to swell up. Its important to increase levels of niacin if you have pellagra the condition can be fatal if left untreated.

RDA: 16 mg/d for men and 14 mm/d for women5

• Fish, meats, poultry, eggs, milk, wholegrain cereals, mushrooms, and nuts contain vitamin B3.6

You May Like: How Much Vitamin D Does A 13 Year Old Need

Drugs With Other Drugs

Drug-drug interactions occur when two or more drugs react with each other, causing an unexpected side effect. For example, mixing a drug you take to help you sleep and a drug you take for allergies can slow your reactions and make driving a car or operating machinery dangerous.

Antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines temporarily relieve a runny nose, or reduce sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, and itchy watery eyes. If you are taking sedatives, tranquilizers or a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression, you should check with a doctor or pharmacist before you start using antihistamines. Antihistamines taken along with blood pressure medication can cause your blood pressure to increase and may also speed up your heart rate.

Bronchodilators: These drugs temporarily relieve shortness of breath, tightness of chest and wheezing due to bronchial asthma. Ask a doctor before use if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease or diabetes.

Cordarone : Patients taking Zocor in doses higher than 20 mg while also taking Cordarone run the risk of developing a rare condition of muscle injury called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure or death. Cordarone also can inhibit or reduce the effect of the blood thinner Coumadin , so if youre using Cordarone, you may need to reduce the amount of Coumadin youre taking.

How Common Is Vitamin C Deficiency

Scurvy due to vitamin C deficiency is rare in the UK.

There are certain groups of people who are more at risk of vitamin C deficiency. They include:

• People dependent on drugs and/or alcohol who may not have a healthy, balanced diet.
• People who go on very restrictive diets.
• People living on a low income who tend not to buy foods with a high vitamin C content.
• People with a medical condition that affects the body’s ability to digest and absorb food, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Older people who may eat a less varied diet.
• Smokers. Smoking affects the absorption of vitamin C from foods and also vitamin C is used up in the body more quickly in those who smoke.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women because they need higher amounts of vitamin C.

Read Also: What Vitamins Help With Menopause And Hot Flashes

Vitamin K In Popular Foods

Below, find more details on the amount of vitamin K present in different foods, including leafy greens, vegetables and other foods as provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

When it comes to blood thinners, the more you know the better you can manage your diet. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Drugs With Food And Beverages

Food and drinks dont mix with certain drugs. They can cause delayed, decreased or enhanced absorption of a medication.

MAO inhibitors and blood pressure: Eating chocolate and peanut butter can be a tasty combination, but eating chocolate and taking certain drugs could carry risks. In fact, eating chocolate and taking MAO inhibitors such as Nardil or Parnate for depression could be dangerous.

Other blood-pressure raising foods to avoid: aged cheese, sausage, bologna, pepperoni and salami.

Grapefruit: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with some prescription drugs, and even a few non-prescription drugs. Dont drink grapefruit juice with certain blood pressure-lowering drugs because it can cause higher levels of those medicines in your body, making side effects more likely.

Licorice: It probably seems like a harmless snack, but if youre taking Lanoxin for congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, some forms of licorice could increase your risk of Lanoxin toxicity. Licorice may also reduce the effects of blood pressure drugs or diuretic drugs, including Hydrodiuril and Aldactone .

Alcohol: If youre taking any sort of medication, avoid alcohol, which can increase or decrease its effect.

Read Also: What Vitamins Build Up The Immune System

Best Delivery System For Vitamin C:

Much of our biological chemistry is based around water and fat solubility. Just as water and oil do not mix there are challenges involved with bringing a water soluble nutrient into a fat soluble matrix such as the cell membranes. This incompatibility leads to lower rates of nutrient uptake and utilization within the cell.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and it doesnt interact particularly efficiently with the cell membrane wall this is made up of fatty acids. Estimates are that oral vitamin C intake has a 20% absorption rate into the bloodstream with the other 80% accumulating in the colon. Oral vitamin C intake is also associated with unpleasant digestive complaints such as cramping and diarrhea because it draws water into the colon.

Does It Help To Take A Multivitamin Every Day

Multivitamins contain a good balance of vitamins, but they hardly ever have the amount of vitamin E and vitamin C that you may need for a healthy heart. You could take a daily multivitamin along with extra vitamin C and vitamin E. Be sure to ask your doctor about this before you take any multivitamin.

For women: If you’re still having periods, you should probably take a multivitamin that has extra iron in it. If you aren’t having periods anymore, you should take a multivitamin that doesn’t have much iron . If you already have enough iron in your body, extra iron can make oxidation happen. Your doctor can tell you what kind of multivitamin is best for you.

Read the full article.

Recommended Reading: How Do I Know How Much Vitamin D To Take

How Much Should I Take Are There Side Effects

Doctors don’t know the ideal dose, but these amounts of vitamin C and vitamin E are reasonable:

Vitamin E: 400 IU a day

Most people won’t have side effects from this much of these vitamins. You may notice nausea, bloating, an upset stomach or loose stools at first.

If your doctor is going to have you tested for blood in your stool, you shouldn’t take vitamin C for three days before you have the test.

Vitamin E acts like a blood thinner if you take 800 IU per day or more. If you’re already taking a blood-thinning drug like warfarin , you should take a lower dose. Check with your doctor.

Good food sources of vitamin E:

Wheat germ

Tomatoes

Vitamin C And Heart Disease:

Vitamin C helps to protect the arterial walls throughout the body. The blood vessels that are most important and under the most stress are the coronary arteries that feed the heart muscle. Vitamin C helps reduce infections and other forms of oxidative stress that affect these blood vessels . It also prevents the oxidation of cholesterol in the bloodstream .

Vitamin C also improves lung function and overall oxygenation within the body. Asthmatics tend to have a higher need for vitamin C and doses of 2000 mg per day lessen the bodys production of histamine and lung associated inflammation .

Vitamin C also improves blood sugar stability which is particularly important for individuals with heart disease and diabetes . When blood sugar is elevated and not properly monitored in the body the sugar molecules bind to proteins in the body and form advanced glycolytic end products . These AGEs create rampant amounts of tissue damaging oxidative stress in the body. Dosages of 1,000-3,000 mg per day drives down AGE formation and improves circulation and tissue oxygenation.

Recommended Reading: Does Yogurt Have Vitamin D

Foods That Contain Vitamin K:

Dark green leafy vegetables have the highest amounts of vitamin K. Foods that contain vitamin K include the following:

• Foods with more than 100 mcg per serving:
• ½ cup of cooked kale
• ½ cup of cooked spinach
• ½ cup of cooked collard greens
• 1 cup of cooked broccoli
• 1 cup of cooked brussels sprouts
• 1 cup of raw collard greens
• 1 cup of raw spinach
• 1 cup of raw endive

Premature Aging Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, is an important antioxidant which helps fight harmful free radicals. Free radicals are naturally formed in the body when we convert food into energy. Air pollution, sunlight, and smoking also expose us to free radicals. So vitamin E plays an important part in protecting the skin from sun damage which can cause accelerated aging and wrinkling of your skin.

However, do keep in mind that experts feel that vitamin E alone may not provide sufficient protection to your skin. You may also need vitamin C to effectively increase the photoprotection of skin through the diet.21

RDA: 15 mg/d for adults22

• You can get vitamin E from sunflower oil, safflower oil, and wheat germ oil as well as nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts.
• Green vegetable like broccoli and spinach can also give you some vitamin E.

Apart from ensuring that you get the recommended amount of all of the above vitamins, do consult a professional if you experience any out of the ordinary changes in your skin.

References

Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Vitamin C To Use

Vitamin Supplements Containing Coumarin:

Any natural supplements containing coumarin or plants and herbs that contain high doses of coumarin are considered excellent natural blood thinners. This sweet smelling natural compound has anti-coagulant properties, which prevent clot formation in humans. Though highly effective, an overdose of this particular supplement can be toxic.

There are a number of plants and dietary supplements that contain this particular compound like nettle, wild carrot, lavender, parsley, Tonka beans, sweet clover, rue, wild lettuce, chamomile, celery seeds, fenugreek and dandelion. When ingested with cinnamon and cassia, coumarin may also lower blood pressure and relieve inflammation caused by arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Who Should Take Extra Vitamin E And Vitamin C

To lower your risk of heart disease, you need to take much more vitamin E and vitamin C than you can get from food. Your doctor may want you to take extra vitamin E and vitamin C if you have had any of the following problems:

A heart attack

Read Also: Where To Buy Vitamin K2 Mk7

Skin Ulcers Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Vitamin B6 deficiency is usually found in people deficient in B12 and folate. Vegetarians also run a risk of mild deficiency.

Vitamin B6 is another nutrient thats important for the health of your skin. If you dont get enough of this vitamin, you might experience symptoms like rashes that itch, flaking skin on your lips, and ulcers in the corner of your mouth.7 It may also cause glossitis of the tongue where the tongue loses its bumpy papillae and becomes smooth and inflamed.8

RDA: 1.3 mg/d for adults aged 1950 years 1.7 mg/d for men above 51 years and 1.5 mg/d for women above 51

• Fish, eggs, and poultry are rich in vitamin B6 as are starchy vegetables like potatoes.9

Skin Rashes Vitamin B2 Deficiency

Riboflavin is involved in the production of energy from food and plays a part in keeping your skin and vision healthy. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause redness and cracks in the corner of your mouth and your tongue as well as a skin rash. You may also experience inflamed eyelids, hair loss, and reddening of your cornea.3

RDA: 1.3 mg for men and 1.1 mg for women4

• Milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, wholegrain cereals, leafy green vegetables, egg whites, meat, kidney, and liver can all help you get in your daily quota.

You May Like: How Much Vitamin D Does An Adult Need