Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drink green tea if I have a port for administration of my chemotherapy?

I have recently heard of a cancer center's staff receiving information from a pharmaceutical company representative that patients should not be drinking green tea if they have a port for administration of their chemotherapy. The explanation given was that green tea is high in vitamin K, which will increase the blood clotting and thus potentially clog the port.

Green and black tea leaves are quite high in vitamin K. However, the critical point to understand is that vitamin K is a fat soluble
vitamin, not water-soluble, and thus only small amounts of this vitamin are actually transferred from the tea leaves into the resultant tea that one drinks (1). You may actually see the data showing the difference between the vitamin K content of tea leaves and the resultant tea (1428 micrograms/100 grams of dry tea leaves (which is a lot of tea!) vs. 0.03 micrograms per 3.5 ounce serving) at the following web site: http://www.coumadin.com/consumer/INT_VitaminK1.asp - click on beverages, then scroll down to see the vitamin K content of green tea.

So my recommendations are the following:

1.) If you have a port or are receiving a blood-thinner like Coumadin for any reason, DO NOT chew on or consume the tea leaves.
2.) Feel comfortable consuming a couple of small cups of brewed green tea daily. Do not drink *gallons*.
3.) If you do normally consume a larger amount of green tea on a daily basis, be sure to tell your oncologist as your clotting
measurements (INR) can be monitored with your medication adjusted if necessary.
4.) Lastly, also read my other Q&A about herbs and clotting.

Reference:
(1) Booth SL, Madabushi HT, Davidson KW, et al. Tea and coffee brews are not dietary sources of vitamin K1 (phylloquinone). J Am Diet Assoc 1995;95:82-3

FAQ posted 1/04

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These questions and answers are intended to be of a general informative nature. Please consult with the Registered Dietitian in your cancer center or your health care provider for nutritional advice that can be individualized to your specific medical condition.