Grapefruit juice is widely enjoyed for its vitamin C content, but it can pose serious health risks when combined with common drugs.
The popular citrus drink has proven particularly dangerous when mixed with drugs prescribed for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression, a dietitian has cautioned.
Doctors are still investigating which of the hundreds of chemicals in grapefruit are responsible for these harmful interactions, but they suspect furanocoumarin, found in grapefruit, Seville oranges and tangelos, may be the culprit.
"This can actually be pretty dangerous if you are consistently drinking grapefruit juice with medication that does not mix," explained Reema Kanda, Dietician for Hoag Orthopedic Institute, who expressed surprise at the extent of the problem.
Drugs trigger unpleasant side effects when they reach unsafe levels in the blood
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The main risk occurs when substances interfere with how medications are metabolised; resulting in too much drug in the body.
Having unsafe levels of drugs in the bloodstream can set off a string of potentially harmful side effects.
"I myself was pretty shocked at how many medications do not play well with Grapefruit Juice," noted Reema.
"Statins, immunosuppressants, and some SSRIs are some common medications that really should not be mixed with this juice."
She noted that despite the risks, many patients remain unaware of these interactions.
Experts at Harvard Health have elucidated the scientific mechanism behind this interaction.
The juice binds to an enzyme in the intestinal tract known as CYO3a4, which normally reduces medication absorption.
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Tingling in the hands could be hinting at an underlying deficiency GETTY"When grapefruit juice blocks the enzyme, it's easier for the medication to pass from your gut to the bloodstream," Harvard Health notes.
"Blood levels will rise faster and higher than normal and in some cases, the abnormally high levels can be dangerous."
Kanda warned that even if you've previously mixed these medications with grapefruit juice without issue, caution is still advised.
"You may have already mixed these medications with Grapefruit juice and been okay, but it is always best to err on the side of caution," she said. "You never really know when we might have a strange reaction one day."
