Why must individuals prescribed warfarin maintain a consistent daily intake of Vitamin K-rich foods like chard?

Answer

Sudden changes can interfere with medication efficacy requiring dosage adjustment

Individuals taking the blood thinner warfarin must carefully manage their Vitamin K consumption because Vitamin K plays a direct role in the body's clotting factors, which the medication is designed to regulate. The critical requirement is not strict avoidance, but rather reliability. Sudden, drastic increases or decreases in Vitamin K intake from foods like chard can unpredictably alter blood clotting times, thereby interfering with the prescribed efficacy of the warfarin. This inconsistency requires healthcare providers to constantly adjust the patient's dosage.

Why must individuals prescribed warfarin maintain a consistent daily intake of Vitamin K-rich foods like chard?
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