Why is grapefruit a problem with statins?

Why is grapefruit a problem with statins?

Grapefruit contains a chemical that can interfere with your body’s ability to break down or metabolize certain statin medications. When statin takers eat large amounts of grapefruit, the level of statins in their blood can increase, raising the possibility of side effects.

What chemical in grapefruit interferes with statins?

furanocoumarins
A: Certain classes of drugs — most notably statins — are metabolized (broken down) in your intestines by an enzyme called CYP3A, which normally reduces the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream. Grapefruit juice contains compounds called furanocoumarins that stop CYP3A from doing its job.

Can eating grapefruit clear arteries?

In one study, animals fed a high-cholesterol diet plus grapefruit pectin had 24 percent narrowing of their arteries, versus the control with 45 percent narrowing. In other words, the pectin binds to cholesterol and helps to remove arterial buildup. The limonoids mentioned above also help lower high cholesterol levels.

Why is grapefruit bad for you?

So why is grapefruit getting a bad rap? Grapefruit juice inhibits a chemical in the intestine needed to break down many drugs in the body. The absence of this chemical can lead to higher blood levels. In effect, the drug becomes more potent.

Can I eat grapefruit if I take atorvastatin?

Atorvastatin interacts with grapefruit juice if you drink large quantities (more than 1.2 litres daily), but an occasional glass is thought to be safe. Currently, healthcare professionals advise it is safe to drink grapefruit juice and eat grapefruit if you’re taking other types of statins.

Is grapefruit a natural statin?

Furanocoumarins are organic chemical compounds present in many different plants, including grapefruit. This compound deactivates the CYP3A4 enzyme that the body uses to metabolize, or process, these particular statins. Grapefruit doesn’t affect other statins because they are metabolized by a different enzyme, CYP2C9.

Can I eat grapefruit with statins?

Statins are medicines that lower your cholesterol. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice affects some statins. Do not drink grapefruit juice if you’re taking simvastatin. Grapefruit juice increases the level of simvastatin in your blood and makes side effects more likely.

How much grapefruit is too much with statins?

A person taking some statins may only start to see harmful effects if they drink 1 quart (946 milliliters) or more of grapefruit juice. Eating grapefruit is less risky because the typical serving size — about half a grapefruit — contains less than a typical glass of juice a person might have with breakfast.

Can you eat oranges while taking atorvastatin?

Seville oranges, limes, and pomelos also contain this chemical and should be avoided if you’re taking statins.

Can I eat pineapple with statins?

The risk of a drug-nutrient interaction between pineapple juice and statins is minimal to none.

Why you shouldn’t mix grapefruit and statins?

Statins and grapefruit don’t mix because components in grapefruit interfere with the way statins are broken down in the body. If the body can’t properly metabolize cholesterol-lowering drugs, the drugs can build up in the patient’s system, resulting in an overdose.

What medicines can’t you take with grapefruit?

Grapefruit might interact with some of these medications including lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), and atorvastatin (Lipitor), but grapefruit juice does not interact with some other medications used for lowering cholesterol including pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), and rosuvastatin (Crestor).

Can you drink grapefruit with statins?

People taking statins should not ingest grapefruit. Those who take medications such as statins should check with their doctors to see if it’s safe to drink grapefruit juice, which can interact with certain drugs.

What could possibly be bad about grapefruit?

Grapefruit can be a healthy snack, but you need to be aware of how it affects your digestion right before bed. However, this yummy fruit is acidic, and eating grapefruit at night could exacerbate heartburn for some people, which is often worse when lying down.