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Nutrient-Drug Interactions
Medications have become an integral part of life for many people. Medicine serves to help people when they are sick, allowing them to live longer and healthier lives. With rapidly growing research and technology, medications are more beneficial, and new ones continue to be discovered. Drugs do need to be taken with caution, however. All medications, whether prescribed by a doctor or bought over-the-counter, are capable of harmful side effects. The foods people eat contain nutrients that are used by the body to produce energy. Sometimes, certain medications may interact with both the food eaten and the nutrients the food gives to the body for proper functioning. When the body is unable to use a nutrient due to a drug that has been taken, a nutrient-drug interaction has occurred.
Function of a Drug
A drug is taken to prevent or treat sickness and disease. It is important to know what happens in the body when a drug is taken in order to better understand the interaction between nutrients and drugs. The action of a drug taken orally generally occurs in four steps: (1) the drug dissolves in the stomach, (2) the drug is absorbed into the blood and moves via the blood to the area of the body that needs it, (3) the body reacts to the medicine, and (4) the body gets rid of the drug by way of the kidney, liver, or both.
Adverse Effects of Nutrient-Drug Interactions
A nutrient-drug interaction may impact the body in several ways. Certain foods can affect the rate at which the body uses a medication. A drug will not work as well if a certain nutrient in a food speeds up or slows down the
| Drug | Indication | Possible Effects |
| SOURCE: Compiled from references in the bibliography. | ||
| Coumadin | Anticoagulant (blood thinner) | Vitamin K is a nutrient in the body that helps blood to clot. Vitamin K is present in foods such as green, leafy vegetables and fish. It will interfere with a blood thinner like coumadin. |
| Dilantin | Anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) | Vitamin D and folic acid levels in the body are decreased by the taking of these types of drugs. |
| Norvasc | Antihypertensive (for high blood pressure) | Consuming foods high in sodium (i.e., licorice, processed meats, canned foods) will decrease the effectiveness of the drug. |
| Aspirin | Anti-inflammatory/pain reliever | Taking large amounts of these drugs will cause a loss of Vitamin C in the body. |
| Birth control pills | Oral contraceptives | Women who take these drugs often have low levels of folic acid and Vitamin B6 in the blood. |
| Dyazide/Thiazide | Diuretics (water-eliminating) | Taking diuretics often leads to a loss of potassium in the body. |
| Tetracycline | Antibiotic | Calcium may interact with the effectiveness of the antibiotic. Avoid dairy products for two to three hours before and after taking the medicine. |
| Lipitor/Zocor | Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) | Antioxidants (Vitamin A, C, E, B, folic acid) may interact with the drug by reversing its effect. |
| Prednisone | Corticosteroid | The drug may increase appetite thus increasing nutrient intake. |
| Lasix | Diuretic (water-eliminating) | The drug may decrease appetite thus decreasing nutrient intake. |
drug's absorption into the body. Short- or long-term instances of nutrient-drug interactions may be life threatening. A nutrient-drug interaction may also impact the nutritional status of the body. Nutrient-drug interactions can occur with both prescription and over-the-counter medicine.
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Author Info: D. Michelle Swords, The Gale Group Inc., Macmillan Reference USA, New York, Gale Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Well Being, 2004 |
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