Orlistat pill and Vitamin K

Orlistat, a medicine used for burning calories and olestra, a substance added to certain food products, are both intended to bind to fat and prevent the absorption of fat and the extra calories. Because of medication effects on fat, orlistat slimming pill may also prevent the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin K. Given this concern and possibility, the Food and Drug Administration at this time requires that vitamin K and other fat soluble vitamins (namely, A, D, and E) be added to food products containing olestra component. How well vitamin K from such food products is absorbed and used by people body is not clear until now. In addition, healthcare providers who prescribe orlistat dietary supplement add a multivitamin with fat soluble vitamins to the regimen. The possibility of orlistat medication interfering with vitamin K absorption is very important to know if you already have a vitamin K deficiency (such as with malnourishment or poor fat absorption from cystic fibrosis) or if you have a tendency to bleed. However, the fact that vitamin K is now added to olestra-containing food products is also important if you should not be taking vitamin K (again, e.g., if you are on the blood thinner warfarin or you have a G6PD deficiency).