Grapefruit poses health risk to patients, warn scientists

I have spent very little time in the hospital, but during the three or four (maybe?) times I was in over night and had to have 'hospital' breakfast; it always included a half grapefruit.

NOW they expand herb/drug interaction research to food. I coulda' DIED!

Medical science is both awesome and kinda frightening.

This artice is just plain wrong. Grapefruit DOES NOT interact with other drugs. Grapefruit has an enzyme that has a strong affinity for the metabolic pathway in the liver called the CYP450. Many drugs being developed today are designed to be metabolized (broken down) by this pathway as it is an effective route to break down the drug and deliver to the rest of the body.

Unfortunately what happens is that the grapefruit has a stronger affinity for this pathway than the drug being taken. As a result, the drug cannot get through this pathway to be broken down to administration levels resulting in an increased side effect profile. Think of a very busy highway and not being able to even get on the on ramp.

I love my grapefruit seed extract.

Those same fuckers say that water does not help with dehydration...

This artice is just plain wrong ... Oh, yes ...

Mechanism of the interaction

The CYP3A4 isoform of cytochrome P450 is located in both the liver and the enterocytes . Many oral drugs undergo first-pass (presystemic) metabolism by the enzyme. Several organic compounds found in grapefruit and specifically in grapefruit juice exert inhibitory action on drug metabolism by the enzyme. It has been established that a group of compounds called furanocoumarins are responsible for this interaction and not flavonoids as was previously reported. [ 20 ] The list of active furanocoumarins found in grapefruit juice includes: bergamottin , bergapten , bergaptol and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin .

This interaction is particularly dangerous when the drug in question has a low therapeutic index , so that a small increase in blood concentration can be the difference between therapeutic success and toxicity. Grapefruit juice inhibits the enzyme only within the intestines , not in the liver or elsewhere in the body, and does not impact injected drugs. The degree of the effect varies widely between individuals and between samples of juice, therefore it cannot be accounted for a priori .

Another mechanism of interaction is possibly through the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) that is localized in the apical brush border of the enterocytes . Pgp transports lipophilic molecules out of the enterocyte back into the intestinal lumen . Drugs that possess lipophilic properties are either metabolised by CYP3A4 or removed into the intestine by the Pgp transporter. Both the Pgp and CYP3A4 may act synergistically as a barrier to many orally administered drugs. Therefore their inhibition (both or alone) can markedly increase the bioavailability of a drug.

The interaction caused by grapefruit compounds lasts for up to 24 hours and its effect is the greatest when the juice is ingested with the drug or up to 4 hours before the drug. [ 21 ]

The flavonoid existing in highest concentration in grapefruit juice is naringin , which in humans is metabolised to naringenin . There are also other flavonoids in grapefruit juice, in lower concentrations. Orange juice does not contain naringin in as high a concentration, instead containing hesperetin . It is sometimes recommended as a substitute. Juice of limes and Seville oranges can also inhibit drug metabolism, however, as can apple juice with some drugs.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

lol, a fruit that contains chemicals.
they mean the monsanto shit right?

i mean, chemicals in fruit???

:-)

This list is quite scary.

I have taken several of these medicines in the past i.e erthroymicin, and one drug for cholesterol. My cholesterol is controled now through a supplement,so it is not a concern anymore... but I could have easily eaten grapefruit with these meds.

Get the word out!

Got my husband off statins. You need to research the dangers of this drug. Most doctors know how dangerous they are, but I believe they are pushing them to get $$$$ from big pharm. You can lower you cholesteral natually, krill oil is one way. Besides, high good cholesteral is far more important to have, than the high bad cholesteral. It is on big farce, just like ADD/ADHD is complete bullsh*t. I live drug free, and just need to get my husband off the high blood pressure meds, and then we are free from the Roman Empire's, Knights of Malta (they run our AMA) plan to make us sick and dependant on their system.

I read this: Once I tried it to my self to prevent a flu and I saw that it works perfect, so, all my family uses it including children. I love use of grapefruit seeds extract :-) [link to simplehomemade.net]

Nothing new, some leaflets already gave that warning- There are some plants which you cant use under some drug's prescriptions. Hypericum e.g. does act as a sunburn intensifier.

OP: Hai scoperto l'acqua calda. Sorry... Anche l'iperico ha gli stessi effetti sul P450.

[link to www.infoerbe.org]

in particolare riporto quanto:
Il succo di pompelmo, oltre all'influenza sulla glicoproteina P, inibisce fortemente il P450 (Bailey et al., 1998). Le piante che appartengono alle crucifere (broccoli, cavoli, cavoletti di Bruxelles ecc.), la carne alla brace, il vino rosso, l'etanolo e il fumo di sigaretta, sono tutti degli induttori del citocromo P450 (Vistisen et al., 1991; Kall et al., 1995; Chan et al., 1998; Djordjevic et al., 1998; Guengerich et al., 1994) e come tali possono influenzare il metabolismo di farmaci e ormoni. La dieta, il sesso, l'età, l'appartenenza etnica, tutti questi fattori possono influenzare il sistema enzimatico.

Last Edited by >:Aldabaran:< on 11/26/2012 05:48 PM

Gotta love those grapefruits from South Africa.
Don't like the ones from Israel that much.

big pharma.....

Do the ideeits mention how much grapefruit juice or grapefruits it takes to have any significant effect on these drugs?

1 drop a day? A gallon?

It's not the drugs, it's the natural fruit that predates mankind! Stupid humans always playing with fire!

It's long been known that grapefruits potentiate benzodiazepines, due to the enzyme mentioned in the earlier posts

Big Pharma can kiss my ass....I am NOT giving up Grapefruit!

How close are they to making vitamin C itself toxic when mixed with meds?

^this^

Well said!

Right, stop eating fruit because it might mess with your oh-so-healthy prescription drugs.

EVERYTHING can be solved with the correct nutrition. Stop being lazy and get off the drugs.

If you have a question, contact Dr. Wallach and he'll tell you how to solve your health issue.

[link to www.wallachonline.com]

[link to xkcd.com]

So the grapefruit is the "health problem" and the drugs are not the problem.




Love that propaganda.

Old news. Just read the fucking warnings and you won't have a problem.

A resident at a Homeless Shelter - said everyone who takes meds is forced to take Grapefruit pills with them.

He was angry about it and said he was being citrus poisoned.

Simple solution- if you are on prescription pills dont eat grapefruit...

One reason I was told (by a doctor in the family) is that the grapefruit does the same thing as the drug, so you could eat grapefruit and not have to take the drug, but that wouldn't be good for business for the pharmacies and doctors.

The PROBLEM is the growing number of people on meds.There's lots of money to be made with more & more people medicated

It has other benefits as well.