Eating Food Containing Garlic

I have been told not to eat food containing garlic because of my ITP. My current count is 119 and the medication 1.5g per day MMF but the problem I may have is spending 14 days in Tuscany soon and looking for food without garlic. I have been told to forget about the UK ( or US ) interpretations and think Italian. How critical is it to avoid garlic and does garlic affect platelet production and/or production?

I've read that garlic can affect platelet aggregation (clotting), but there is conflicting information about that. I would think that if your count is 119k, you shouldn't have a problem eating it even if it does affect aggregation. Tuscany is my dream destination...lucky you! I'd definitely want the full experience, garlic and all!

Oh I would eat sooo much garlic in Tuscany. There are a lot of foods that affect platelets. I think there's a list somewhere around pdsa, maybe in the discussions. When I was first diagnosed, had lower counts, and lots of gastro issues I tried to avoid them all. It seemed like it's everything with any flavor though. Garlic, onions, ginger, tomatoes etc. I avoided them until I started feeling better and slowly reincorporated foods. I still avoid red wine, I think i read that it slows your production of blood and being alcohol and grapes thins the blood. But I agree with Sandi 119 is such a high count I wouldn't worry too much about avoiding everything. It's good just to be mindful of how you feel. If you feel a bit worse from eating a certain food practice moderation or avoid it. I eat lots of garlic all the time now,my count is 60k and I don't notice any difference with my counts or how I feel after eating it. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you for your quick responses and comments. I went through the PDSA list a while back and started reintroducing foods such as tomatoes and cooked onions ,but so far not garlic, so I am reassured by your comments and experiences. Yes it is great to be having some some time to explore something very different and I do not want anything to spoil it. The other reason is my platelet count was 159 four weeks ago on 2g/day MMF and that was reduced to 1.5g then. Another visit to Haematology in 4 weeks time so I am not keen to have another large drop in platelets from 119. Yes it is a good count but I really want to have lower doses of the MMF,although the last attempt failed at the 1g dose. Hence my somewhat over cautious approach to garlic since having red Chianti is a no no in the very area they produce it. Again many thanks to you both. Derek

Derek:

When I was diagnosed, there was no list. I ate whatever I wanted and didn't know any different. I never had a doctor tell me not to eat any certain foods. When the list came out, I still ate whatever I wanted even with low counts. I'm a rebel though. I did avoid NSAID's as advised, until inflammation became a bigger problem than my platelets were.

Usually, anything in moderation is fine.

I like to live dangerously, hence the garlic bread heating in the oven as I write. Yum yum!

OMG the ITP world is full of people living on the edge ! To be serious though I have not found any food that does affect my count, but the list put me off garlic and ginger so I was just checking. When I first saw that list and saw no tomatoes, cranberries,onions and everything I liked in addition to having not to do this and not to do that ,not to mention prednisolone at 80mg a day I really did feel depressed. Now I know differently, but I can be too cautious sometimes.Many thanks for all the comments but I would like to live without going down to about 6 again for several months as when first diagnosed.

In truth I've never been told by any haematologist to avoid any particular food or drink. I think that if it were necessary they would have told me.

Like Sandi I was diagnosed and there was no list - but I'll tell you, once it came out and I saw tomatoes were on it something clicked in my brain and I wanted to eat tomatoes until the cows came home

Garlic - the more garlic in/on something the better, same with onions.

What I do stay away from is the vitamin E - it did cause a problem for me.

Have a wonderful time in Tuscany!!

Thanks Melinda ,Ann and Sandi , and I do intend to enjoy myself in Tuscany and sample the local food and culture. At least I shall know more about if there are any taboos about the food myths and broaden my diet for the future. The moral is to be careful when reading lists of forbidden foods from whatever source. Coming to think of it, I do survive the Sottish diet so any other country should hold no terrors !

vaughanderek wrote: Many thanks for all the comments but I would like to live without going down to about 6 again for several months as when first diagnosed.

Derek:

The foods that you are talking about are not known to reduce platelets. They are known to affect clotting. If counts are up, those things should not be a problem for you at all.

Food and Supplements that Interfere with Platelet Function

This list contains food and supplements that can change the way platelets work and make it more difficult for your blood to clot. They do not reduce the platelet count unless noted. A small quantity of these substances will probably be safe and not cause a problem.

There are many drugs such as Plavix and Coumadin that are designed to interfere with platelet function as well as other drugs such as aspirin that reduce platelet function as a side effect of their other uses. The food and supplements listed can amplify the effect of these medications. See the results of the NIH Conference on Dietary Supplements, Coagulation, and Antithrombotic Therapies held January 13-14, 2005, for more information and an extensive bibliography.

Many of the listed substances are also antioxidants or have other properties that promote healing. A balance is important. We are publishing this list so you are aware that everyday or easily-available substances can have an effect on platelets, although their anti-clotting action is much weaker than pharmaceuticals.

If you have a reasonably high platelet count and few bleeding symptoms, many items on this list will not cause problems unless you ingest large quantities. Ironically, some patients with ITP have a clotting problem and are also taking blood thinners. Others may have a clotting problem and not know it. The propensity to clot and medication status are important factors when considering diet choices. Please discuss any concerns with your doctor.

alcohol (can also reduce the number of platelets)44
aspartame (NutraSweet, can also reduce the number of platelets)16
beer (including non-alcoholic beer)17,18
blueberries19
chocolate (dark)20
coffee21
feverfew22
garlic23
onions24
gingko biloba25
ginger26
ginseng27
green tea28
guarana (a dietary supplement)29
kiwi fruit30
omega 3 fatty acids (hemp seed, fish oil)31, 32
pycnogenol (pine bark extract)33
quercetin, rutin, and related bioflavonoids34, 35
red/purple grape products (grape juice, red wine, raisins, grape seeds)36
red wine37
tomatoes38
vitamin E39
wood ear or cloud ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae, used in Chinese cuisine)40

Thank you Sandi for the list and comments on platelet function. Giving up coffee, beer,kiwi fruit and onions,all in moderation ,would be a no no for me , so now I will try adding more to the diet. I will still avoid quinine though because of platelet production. Life must go on normally with ITP as a minor inconvenience with me as the master. After all there are people who would just love to have the response to drugs that I get so I count myself as lucky in many ways. Say to myself a hundred times ---stay positive and enjoy life to the full.
Derek

Quinine induced thrombocytopenia is simply a drug induced thrombocytopenia and nothing to do with ITP. To have that disorder along with ITP would be very rare and very unlucky indeed.

Beer, blueberries, chocolate (dark), coffee, garlic and red wine!! Love it all :S

Well I now know the answer about what foods to avoid in Italy. I took all your advice and had no diet restrictions at all and did enjoy the italian experience thoroughly. The result was no effects whatsoever on my platelet counts (120 ). So a big thank you for the replies. Derek

I'm glad you had a good time!