Mechanisms and consequencesLevodopa + carbidopa and copper interactions are quite complex and not always apparent. The copper-iron and copper-zinc interactions ...
June 18, 2024
- Home
- |
- Archives: Drug-Nutrient interactions
Drug-nutrient interactions is not well-researched. We typically do not know mechanisms of action nor durations of negative impact. Further, there is no regulatory requirement FOR pharmaceutical impacts on nutritional factors to be included in the drug discovery process. This is surprising given the essentiality of nutrient in health status and the increasing importance being placed on pharmaceuticals to manage ill-health.
If inadequate intake is excluded, then the 3 key likely mechanisms that pharmaceuticals can have on nutrient availability include –
If blood tests are conducted during inhibition of the nutrient transporter and the substrate is stuck in the –
Example of direct effect. Amiodarone is a P-gp inhibitor (blocks the transporter function) and its substrates include vitamin D. By inhibiting P-gp transporter, amiodarone decreases vitamin D availability during the period of inhibition.
Example of indirect effect. Pyridoxine transporter (THTR2) requires an acidic environment (pH 5.5) for absorption. It is likely an acid inhibitor changes absorption site acidity, and therefore THTR2 cannot facilitate pyridoxine absorption.
Given the increasing prominence of prescribed medicines in managing health issues, the key drug-nutrient interactions issues we need to know about include which nutrients are negatively impacted, how are they impacted, and what are the best therapeutic management strategies to address that negative impact.
- research papers are scattered across a plethora of journals and subjects;
- the studies are mostly small;
- there is an assumption, without evidence, that food intake will cover the drug-induced nutrient losses;
- there is also an assumption by the pharmaceutical sector that food is benign – this assumption is steadily being eroded,
- the training for doctors and pharmacists training does not include a significant nutrition component. This is surprising given 80+% of western ill-health has an underlying negative nutrition component.
- pharmaceutical industry. The regulatory processes do not require negative nutritional impacts of pharmaceutical products to be included in the drug discovery process;
- governmental research bodies. The number of similarly worthwhile research projects competing for funding is steadily increasing whilst the funding sources generally are not;
- philanthropic bodies. Philanthropic bodies either support a specific area of research or dispense smaller grants to a larger number of applicants. Sadly, there aren't any philanthropic bodies with a particular interest in this area of expertise.
- accessing the information, and
- presenting the findings in a clinically meaningful format.
May 13, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesLevodopa + carbidopa and iron interactions are both complex and extensive. The theories for many of these interactions ...
April 9, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesLevodopa + carbidopa and thiamine encompass a range of interactions that have significant consequences to Parkinson’s Disease (PD) ...
March 18, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesLevodopa + carbidopa and vitamin C encompass a range of interactions that include both direct and indirect mechanisms ...
March 4, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesThe levodopa + carbidopa and vitamin D interaction is apparently additive however the evidence is limited. Given Parkinson’s ...
February 19, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesLevodopa + carbidopa and zinc interactions are a surprisingly relatively recent finding. Levodopa is both a pharmaceutical and ...
February 5, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesIs there evidence of a levodopa + carbidopa and manganese interaction? The total metal content and cellular compartmentalization of ...
January 29, 2024
Mechanisms and consequencesThe levodopa + carbidopa, magnesium and vitamin C interaction has only recently gained recognition. Levodopa is commonly prescribed ...
December 19, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesInteractions between aspirin and various nutrients have been identified over a number of decades and are either old, ...
December 13, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesAn aspirin-folic acid interaction was a recent “incidental finding” from a pooled analysis of some studies looking at ...
December 4, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesThe aspirin-vitamin C interaction was discovered in the early 1970’s. The evidence is predominantly based on short term, ...
March 13, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesThe mechanisms by which metformin exerts its effects are not fully understood and current concepts are currently being ...
March 6, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesAspects of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and pharmaconutrition have been written about in previous posts –Metformin & B6,Elevated pyridoxine ...
February 27, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesMetformin is a commonly prescribed first line intervention in NIDDM management and its mechanisms of action include decreased ...
February 20, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesMetformin was developed and released in the late 1950’s and within a decade was identified as a cause ...
February 14, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesIn many countries, metformin is the first prescribed therapeutic intervention for those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Metformin ...
February 6, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesA throw-away comment in a relatively recent paper that metformin was associated with diminishing riboflavin(vitamin B2) status prompted ...
January 30, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesMembrane transporters are steadily gaining recognition as important factors in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of many ...
January 23, 2023
Mechanisms and consequencesMetformin is the fourth most commonly prescribed medicine in the world therefore it’s negative impacts on nutritional factors ...
November 21, 2022
Mechanisms and consequencesWarfarin is an anticoagulant for which there is a well-known coagulation interaction with vitamin K however its interactions ...
