DRUG-NUTRIENT INTERACTION: what you need to know

What is a drug-nutrient interaction?

A drug-nutrient interaction is a reaction between a medicine and one or more nutrients. Nutrients are the vitamins and minerals that are in the food you eat. Vitamins and minerals nourish your body and help to keep you healthy and reduce your risk for chronic diseases. When a medicine interacts with a nutrient, it can keep the medicine from working properly or it can decrease or increase the amount of a nutrient in your body.

Food can have an effect on the way a medicine works by increasing or decreasing the amount of medicine your body absorbs. If your body cannot absorb as much of the medicine as it should, you will not get the full effect of the medicine. If your body absorbs too much of the medicine, it can cause the medicine to have an effect that is too strong. Food and nutrients can also affect the rate at which your body processes or removes a medicine.

One example of a drug-nutrient interaction involves foods high in vitamin K, such as spinach, broccoli, and kale. Eating foods high in vitamin K can keep warfarin (a blood thinner) from working properly. Foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheeses, can cause severe high blood pressure in people who take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

There are several different ways a medicine can affect the amount of a nutrient in your body. Some medicines can make you feel less hungry or sick to your stomach, all of which affect how much food you eat. Some medicines can keep your body from absorbing or making certain nutrients.

What is drug-nutrient depletion

Drug-nutrient depletion occurs when long-term use of a medicine affects the body’s ability to create or maintain a healthy nutrient level. This can cause low levels of nutrients in your body. For example:

   Statins (cholesterol-lowering medicine) can cause coenzyme Q10 levels to be too low in your body

    Diuretics (water pills) can cause potassium levels to be too low in your body

    Acid reducers can decrease your body’s levels of vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals

    Anticonvulsants (seizure medicine) can cause low levels of vitamin D

This is usually a slow process, occurring over time.

Am I at risk for drug-nutrient interaction?

People who are at increased risk for drug-nutrient interactions include:

    Pregnant women

    Older adults

    People who have a chronic condition (such as diabetes or heart disease)

    Young children

    People who do not have access to proper nutrition

The risk increases for people who are taking 2 or more medicines at the same time.

When your doctor prescribes a medicine for you, be sure to ask if the medicine will interact with any other medicines, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. It may be helpful to bring a complete list of all the medicines and supplements you are taking, including the amount of each and how often you take them. Also, be sure to ask your doctor to provide clear directions for how the medicine should be taken and if there are any foods and/or drinks to avoid while taking the medicine.

Also talk to your doctor about the risk of drug-nutrient depletion. If you are taking a medicine that can affect the amount of a nutrient in your body, your doctor will regularly check your levels. You doctor may also have you take a supplement to help keep the nutrient level up while you are taking your medicine. Be sure to eat a healthy diet that includes foods high in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish.