How can diet affect our medication?
We all know that for some medications, taking them on an empty stomach is preferable, while for others, we recommend that the patient take them after eating.
For example, it is known that the calcium contained in dairy products affects the absorption of some antibiotics, while grapefruit juice, for example, contains substances that interfere with the enzyme system of our body (liver) through which almost half of the medications we consume pass.
We also saw this with the simultaneous intake, for example, of grapefruit with statins, which are the classic medications for regulating cholesterol, where there were very serious side effects. This can happen even with a single glass of juice.
The same fruit can also affect other medications, e.g. anti-anxiety medications (buspirone, triazolam) and medications for malaria, dementia, etc.
When consuming certain foods with medications at the same time, it is a good idea to ask your doctor about possible troublesome interactions, which is more common in the elderly, people with cancer, malabsorption syndromes and digestive system dysfunction, or people with allergic predisposition.
Foods have the ability to increase or decrease the absorption of some medications and, thus, either an increase in their action, toxicity, or even reduced effectiveness may occur.
This is not only true for common medications but also for so-called supplements or natural products, as has been shown in studies.
I will mention that in addition to grapefruit, effects on medication can also arise from other foods such as pomegranate, black pepper, cranberry, black tea, licorice, alcohol, etc. that affect the activity of the P450 enzyme, which is essential for the metabolism of many drugs and which, as is not known, does not act in the same way on all of us.
Substances such as tyramine, which is contained in well-known foods such as beer, chocolate, avocado, and mature cheeses, affect the action of some antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) and can lead to hypertension, precisely because their metabolism is blocked.
Vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, which contain a large amount of vitamin K, cancel the action of some anticoagulant drugs with extremely dangerous consequences.
The newer but much more expensive anticoagulants do not have this problem, but with the proper guidance from their doctor, someone can continue with the coumarins without risk. If someone now drinks a lot of red wine, it compensates due to resveratrol and antiplatelet action.
Even with widely prescribed drugs for erectile dysfunction, a big problem can arise when grapefruit juice is taken.
Olive oil can increase the effect of simvastatin on cholesterol, without knowing exactly the amount that causes it. Meanwhile, black pepper, because it is used in small quantities, cannot significantly affect the increase in the effect of some antihistamines, as it has been proven to do.
It is good, however, since it causes a doubling of the power of some antihistamines, that those who will drive avoid it due to possible sedation.
