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Can Vitamin E Thin the Blood?

Vitamin E CAN thin the blood

The Vitamin E Blood Thinning Research Study

A 2007 study published in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation concluded that vitamin E supplementation may play a role in reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women. VTE is the term used for deep vein clots that develop in the veins causing heart attack and stroke or pulmonary embolism when they break off and travel to the lungs.

The study conducted by Robert J. Glynn, PhD, ScD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, set out to measure the difference in the rate of women developing VTE who were taking 600 Ius of vitamin E every other day with those who did not.

The study followed nearly 40,000 women under the age of 40 over the course of a ten year period.

The study concluded that the women on the vitamin E supplementation had a 21% decreased risk of developing VTE. The percentage jumped to 44% for women who had a history of blood clotting.

Study Warnings-Don't Stop Prescription Blood Thinners

Though many experts agree that the study results of vitamin E playing a role as a blood thinner are promising, all caution not to stop taking prescription blood thinners based on the findings.