Hughes Syndrome, Vitamin E, Ginko Biloba Interactions
Hughes Syndrome Vitamin E Ginko Biloba Information
(ginko biloba is actually spelt ginkgo biloba)
Patients with Hughes Syndrome, also called 'sticky blood' and ‘antiphospholipid syndrome' (or APS) often suffer the following symptoms:
These symptoms relate to the fact that those with Hughes Syndrome are more likely to have blood cloots form. Any blood vessels can be affected. Based on this, the treatment is usually to prescribe medicines that thin the blood. The three main options, depending on the severity of symptoms. For example if a patient has had a thrombosis, they are likely to be given the anti-coagulent warfarin. On the other hand, if a patient has not had a thrombosis but has been diagnosed with Hughes syndrome following a blood test, they are likely to be instructed to take a low dose aspirin, from 75mg to 100mg per day.
Hughes Syndrome Vitamin E Ginko Biloba Interactions
(ginko biloba is actually spelt ginkgo biloba)
Ginkgo Biloba is associated with an increased risk of bleeding, whether in patients who are taking blood thinners like warfarin or not. Bleeding complications have even been reported in patients taking aspirin and ginkgo biloba, as well as just ginkgo biloba on its own but for extended periods. Having said that, thousands of patients have taken it quite safely. Given that it is the terpenoids in ginkgo that cause bleeding, and that the terpenoids are not standardised in ginkgo biloba extracts, this could be why there is such variance in reaction. According to this report from the Warfarin Institute of America, in different bottles of the same brand, there was a variation from 7% to 13% terpenoids. So given the potential risk, and the lack of terpenoid standardisation, if you are taking aspirin or warfarin regularly, it would be best not to take ginkgo biloba.
The case for vitamin E is less clear. If you are only taking aspirin, a study mentioned on www.umm.edu found that it appeared to be safe to take vitamin E with aspirin, although the levesl of vitamin E supplementation were not mentioned.
The Warfarin Institute of America gives a fuller account of studies on vitamin E interaction with warfarin, which being a stronger anti-coagulent is a good benchmark in terms of safety. Basically, for lower doses of vitamin E, it appears to be safe to take it with warfarin, but you should still do so under doctor supervision. They suggest that if you are taking more than 400iu of vitamin E per day, you should have INR measurements taken one or two weeks after starting the combination of vitamin E and warfarin.
So, in conclusion, with regards Hughes syndrome vitamin E ginko biloba, steer clear of ginkgo, and liase with your doctor upon trying vitamin E therapy if you are taking warfarin.
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