Brussels sprouts 'overdose' hospitalised man at Christmas, report reveals Published duration 20 December 2012

image caption Vitamin K in leafy vegetables is known to interfere with anticoagulants

A man from Ayrshire had to be hospitalised after eating too many Brussels sprouts last Christmas, it has emerged.

The traditional Christmas vegetable contain lots of vitamin K which promotes blood clotting.

However, this counteracted the effect of anticoagulants the man was taking because he had a mechanical heart.

Doctors at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank eventually realised too many sprouts were to blame.

The case was reported in a festive edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.

It outlines how the man's condition stabilised after the diagnosis.

Consultant cardiologist Dr Roy Gardner said: "Patients who are taking anticoagulants are generally advised not to eat too many green leafy vegetables, as they are full of vitamin K, which antagonise the action of this vital medication."