statins used to treat a raised cholesterol level.drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (eg sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil).anti-arrhythmia drugs (eg amiodarone, quinidine, disopyramide).beta-blockers (eg carvedilol, used to treat congestive heart failure).calcium channel blockers (eg felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, verapamil).The list of drugs with which grapefruit is known to interact is lengthening all the time, and includes some drugs used to treat high blood pressure, such as some: Which drugs does grapefruit interact with? Grapefruit also appears to affect the way the transport of certain drugs across the intestinal wall, and how they are broken down in the liver. ![]() This enzyme blockade is irreversible and lasts for at least 24 hours, so that drinking commercial grapefruit juice regularly, or eating fresh fruit segments, can cause certain drug levels to rise enough to cause overdose symptoms. This enzyme usually inactivates some drugs before they are absorbed, so switching off its release allows a greater amount of the affected drugs to pass into the circulation. Researchers have found that grapefruit alters the way drugs are handled in the body in several different ways. Some grapefruit components (eg naringen, furanocoumarins) block the production of an enzyme (CYP3A4) within the intestinal wall. How exactly does grapefruit affect medicines? Grapefruit juice was used as a mixer to disguise the alcohol taste and, while the alcohol itself did not have a significant effect, the grapefruit juice greatly increased absorption and the resulting level of the drug within the circulation. The interaction between grape fruit juice and drugs was discovered by accident when researchers were looking at how drinking alcohol affected the absorption of a particular blood pressure medication called felodipine (a calcium channel blocker). Grapefruit juice interacts with the absorption and metabolism of numerous drugs. ![]() Red grapefruit juice has the most powerful effect, and can lower ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol by as much as 15% compared with around 7% for juice from blond grapefruit. The high level of bitter naringenin present also has cholesterol-lowering properties.ĭrinking grapefruit juice can lower your circulating LDL-cholesterol as much as taking a plant sterol supplement or using sterol-fortified spreads. These are rich in pectin, a soluble fibre that reduces cholesterol absorption. ![]() Grapefruit has more pith and membranes than most citrus fruit. Drinking 500ml daily of juice from the Sweetie (a cross between grapefruit and pummelo), for example, significantly lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension from an average of 142/89 mmHg down to 136/81 mmHg within five weeks. Together, these antioxidants help to protect against hardening and furring up of the arteries – a key contributor to the age-related increase in blood pressure that occurs in many people.Īs a source of potassium, grapefruit also helps to flush sodium through the kidneys to reduce fluid retention and lower blood pressure. Grapefruit contain citrus bioflavonoids (eg limonene, hesperidin, tangeritin and naringenin) which also have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. ![]() Why grapefruit is good for blood pressureĪs a member of the citrus family, grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C, with a single fruit supplying at least half your daily requirement. I’ve provided an overview of the pros and cons of eating grapefruit and drinking its juice, below, but if you are on any medication do check the Patient Information Leaflet inside your packs to see if any grapefruit interactions are listed. However, grapefruit also has many food-drug interactions of which you need to be wary as some of these involve some blood pressure drugs and statins that are often prescribed to people with hypertension, whether or not their cholesterol is raised. The flesh and juice of grapefruit offer many benefits if you have high blood pressure.
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