Study finds how grapefruit juice affects drugs

[ResTech]

I often wondered about this myself and no one ever had a solid answer as to why... now I know... very cool.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. researchers said they have identified the compound in grapefruit juice that affects how some drugs are absorbed in the body and said on Tuesday it might be used to help lower dosages for some patients.

Grapefruit juice is known for its effects on drug metabolism and is avoided by some patients while other deliberately take their drugs with the juice.

The reason is an intestinal enzyme called CYP3A, which partially destroys drugs as they are absorbed. Grapefruit juice, like no other fruit juice, interferes with CYP3A, so the body ends up absorbing more of the drug.

Dr. Paul Watkins of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and colleagues say they have identified the substance in grapefruit juice that is responsible -- furanocoumarin.

Read the entire article here.

 

[disassociative]

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I remember GrapeFruit Juice actually being contraindicated with some medications; I always assumed that it was related to Cytochrome P450 2D6. I guess you learn something new everyday.