Nutritional Modulation of Potassium Intake in Warfarin-Treated Patients: A Clinical Assessment

Background: Warfarin is a widely prescribed oral anticoagulant, essential for preventing thromboembolic events. Dietary factors, such as potassium intake, may influence the pharmacodynamics of warfarin and contribute to variations in anticoagulation control, but its impact remains inadequately studied. Objective: This study investigates the effect of different levels of potassium intake on warfarin dose requirements and anticoagulation control (INR) in patients, aiming to elucidate the potential role of potassium in modulating warfarin therapy. Methods: A total of 82 warfarin-treated patients were included in this study, conducted at the Department of Food and Nutrition, Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute, from January 2023 to June 2024. Patients were grouped based on their potassium intake: low (≤2.0 g/day), moderate (2.1–4.4 g/day), and high (≥4.5 g/day). Potassium intake was monitored via 24-hour dietary recalls, and warfarin dosages and INR levels were recorded monthly. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0, with t-tests, regression analysis to examine the relationship between potassium intake and therapeutic outcomes. Result: Patients with high potassium intake (≥4.5 g/day) showed a 15% reduction in required warfarin doses compared to those with low potassium intake (≤2.0 g/day), who needed an average increase of 9%. The average INR value for the high-potassium group was 2.7 ± 0.25, while the low-potassium group had an INR of 3.3 ± 0.35, indicating a significant difference (p = 0.03). Additionally, the moderate-potassium group showed an INR of 3.0 ± 0.3, with an intermediate warfarin dose reduction of 6%. A regression analysis revealed that for every 1 g increase in potassium intake, the warfarin dose decreased by 4.5% (p = 0.01). The variability in INR was higher in the low-potassium group, with a standard deviation of 0.40, compared to 0.25 in the high-potassium group. Furthermore, the incidence of major bleeding events was lower in the high-potassium group (4.5%) compared to the low-potassium group (12.5%). Conclusion: This study suggests that higher potassium intake enhances warfarin therapy by reducing required doses and improving INR control