Question

Your 73-year-old female patient reports that her primary care physician recently prescribed warfarin for her. She states that they told her that it was important to be consistent with one of the nutrients in her diet, but she can't remember which one. Which nutrient is she referring to?

-Vitamin K Vitamin
-C Vitamin A
-Vitamin B
-Vitamin D

Answer 1

The nutrient the patient must keep consistent while taking warfarin is vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting. A stable intake is required for the medication's effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nutrient that your 73-year-old female patient is referring to is vitamin K. Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that is used to treat and prevent blood clots. Since vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, it is important for patients on warfarin to maintain a consistent intake of this vitamin to avoid fluctuations in the medication's effectiveness. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables, such as cabbage and spinach, and is also synthesized by bacteria in the human intestine. It is critical that patients on warfarin work closely with their healthcare providers to monitor their vitamin K intake, keeping it consistent to ensure proper management of clotting risk.