Published Aug 11, 2010 in the North Island Weekender 

Q. Can I take garlic and fish oil supplements while I am taking warfarin?

A. There are no easy answers when someone is taking warfarin as warfarin has many drug and nutrient interactions. The best thing about taking warfarin is that INR blood tests are done weekly until the readings are stable between 2 and 3. Most nutritional supplements have very little effect on INR but everyone is different so the best thing is be monitored. The most significant interaction I have seen is someone taking CoQ10 and warfarin that caused the INR readings to decrease. Garlic and fish oils have an anti-fibrinogen effect making the blood less sticky but there is little known if it effects INR. The same goes with ginkgo. Some of the best outcomes of the GEM trial on ginkgo showed no increase risk of bleeding while taking gingko. The best answer is monitor your INR’s more regularly when starting nutritional and herbal remedies and have your naturopathic and medical doctor help you make these decisions for your health care.

Q. I have a history of anemia.Should I donate blood?

A. When a donor is checked for anemia their hemoglobin is checked on the spot and if the hemoglobin is low then the donor is turned away. What I find in clinical practice is that hemoglobin is often normal but the serum ferritin or iron stores are low meaning less than 30 and this parameter is not checked at the time of blood donation. So please make sure your ferritin is greater than 50 before donating any blood. This goes for men too. I have seen low ferritin in men who regularly donate blood and then complain of fatigue. It can take 6-12 months to restore ferritin levels.

Q. Do you recommend the use of margarines?

A. I mainly recommend the use of butter and preferably organic, if you can get it, as the levels of added hormones are lower in an organic cow producing the milk used for butter. I recommend using margarines made out of olive oil, organic soy oil or pure coconut oil rather than other oils such as canola or sunflower oil. Canola oil needs to be organic to avoid the genetic modification of this food and sunflower oil is often highly processed to extend its shelf life. I do recommend sunflower and safflower oils but only those sold in dark bottles, stored in the fridge and consumed within one month of opening to avoid rancidity.  All of these oils are good sources of omega 3 and omega 6 essential fats but they do not replace the DHA and EPA omega 3 essential fats found only in fish oils.

Q. I have recently heard of Aminosweet, do you recommend it?

A. This is another name for aspartame E-951 and I do not recommend it. Refer to my previous articles on the topic and see “Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic” written by Dr. H. J. Roberts, M.D. Instead I recommend stevia. It is mainstream now and available in powder and liquid forms. The powder form works well in baking, see my banana bread recipe, and the liquid form works well in herbal iced tea beverages.