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Dietary Supplements

To use vitamin and mineral supplements or not to use them—it’s a question of special concern to people with hemophilia. Nutritional imbalances can interfere with the blood clotting process under normal circumstances, so those with hemophilia should be particularly cautious.

For instance, a high intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have increased risk of bleeding.¹ Vitamin E can act as an anticoagulant and may increase the risk of bleeding disorders. This is especially relevant with excessive intake of vitamin E, usually from high-dose supplements of greater than 1000 IU/day.²

Avoid supplements that might adversely affect bleeding and clotting times, such as:

• Ginseng
• Gingko Biloba
• Bromelain
• Flaxseed
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Bilberry fruit³

OR

• Black cohosh
• Cat's claw
• Feverfew
• Pau d'arco ⁴

Unlike drugs and food additives, which must undergo clinical studies before being approved and allowed on the market, dietary supplements are not required to be tested for safety. Effectiveness may vary, and there is often no scientific proof that the supplement can even live up to the claims made. Labeling is not standardized, so the active ingredient, dose, side effects, or drug interactions may not be listed on the supplement package.

If you must use an iron supplement, be sure to read the labels and choose one that lists the source of iron as ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate, rather than ferric iron. Consume fruits and vegetables—foods rich in vitamin C to enhance the body’s ability to absorb iron.

References

1. Medline Plus (U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health). http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-fishoil.html. Accessed August 9, 2008.
2. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp. Accessed August 9, 2008.
3. Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center News, Vol. 3, Summer 2001 issue. http://www.ihtc.org. Accessed August 9, 2008.
4. Canadian Hemophilia Society. “All About Hemophilia” guide, chapter 10. Available at http://www.hemophilia.ca. Accessed August 9, 2008.

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Note: thereforyou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.