Grapefruit and Medicne Interaction

[Millet]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The quest to develop a grapefruit hybrid that will not interact with medication has taken a step forward, as researchers pinpoint compounds most responsible for the problem, a University of Florida citrus breeder says.

Scientists have been aware of the so-called “grapefruit juice effect” since 1989. Compounds in the fruit called furanocoumarins inhibit the action of an enzyme that breaks down certain medications in the human digestive system.

The phenomenon poses a health risk because it can produce unexpectedly high levels of these medications in a patient’s bloodstream. Doctors, pharmacists and prescription drug labels warn patients to avoid grapefruit and related products under these circumstances.

The phenomenon is a disappointment for fans of the tart treat, but Fred Gmitter, a faculty member at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, is part of a team working to address the problem by developing a hybrid between grapefruit and selected varieties of pummelo that have been shown to have low furanocoumarin content and can transmit the trait to their offspring.

In the current study, researchers investigated the effects of furanocoumarin compounds, testing each one to determine the amount required to slow the enzyme reaction by 50 percent. The results showed that a handful of furanocoumarins had the strongest effect.

More importantly, juice samples from 40 different hybrids and their parents were tested directly for their overall effect on enzyme activity, and one of the selected hybrids approved for impending release, known as UF 914, was among the samples with the lowest effect.

Gmitter said further study is needed to learn how low furanocoumarin levels must be to reduce the interaction risk.

Other members of the research team included David Greenblatt, Yanli Zhao, Michael Hanley and Jerold Harmatz of Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center in Boston; Chunxian Chen of the Lake Alfred center and Paul Cancalon of the Florida Department of Citrus in Lake Alfred. - Millet

news.uf.edu/2012/12/19/grapefruit-2/

[frukt]

This is medication mostly for high blood pressure. I dont really understand everything about the body (yet) but citrus fruits have much more arginine than lysine and that is affecting the blood pressure. I think drinking grapejuice and other citrus fruits should be made in moderate amounts 

I think arginine is produced in the body and that eating a lot of cholesterol also contribute to the production. But now Im writing on thin ice. Interesting topic. Eating brussels spruots can also disturb the medication from blood medication.

and then they say there is no effect in eating plants 

[fruitlovers]

This is medication mostly for high blood pressure. I dont really understand everything about the body (yet) but citrus fruits have much more arginine than lysine and that is affecting the blood pressure. I think drinking grapejuice and other citrus fruits should be made in moderate amounts 

I think arginine is produced in the body and that eating a lot of cholesterol also contribute to the production. But now Im writing on thin ice. Interesting topic. Eating brussels spruots can also disturb the medication from blood medication.

and then they say there is no effect in eating plants

Well if you are taking 10-12 different drugs, every day, like so many Americans do, then practically anything you do you're going to have to consult a physician before you do it! How do you think a cocktail of so many different drugs is going to interact with alcohol, other drugs, or even just rigorous physical exercise, or even pregnancy?
In my own opinion we should get people addicted for life on eating 10-12 different fruits every day, instead of drugs.