PharmacoNutrition Archive - Page 5 of 5

The interface between prescribed medicines and nutritional factors is so overlooked that it is commonly referred to as drug-nutrient interactions. We decided PharmacoNutrition is a suitable name as it encompasses the broad scope of the field. Pharmaconutrition interactions are overlooked because -

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.

The ultimate question is “Who will conduct the research?”:

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.

PharmacoNutrition comprises 2 components -

accessing the information, and
presenting the findings in a clinically meaningful format.

The online platform Medications & Nutrition provides a comprehensive range of clinically-useful, referenced, research evidence that is presented in a dot point format to improve accessibility to the latest research for busy clinicians. Examples of integration formats are included in the Case study component of our MedNut Mail series.

September 21, 2021

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The daily double – metformin and proton pump inhibitors (PPI)

Mechanisms and consequencesMetformin and proton pump inhibitors both decease vitamin B12 absorption, and decrease thiamine availability.Metformin is the fourth most ...

September 7, 2021

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The trifecta – proton pump inhibitor, frusemide & digoxin

Mechanisms and consequencesThis trifecta has been prescribed since admission and likely before then; in this instance the trifecta refers to ...

August 31, 2021

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Prednisolone, diabetes drugs and BSLs

Mechanisms and consequencesCommonly the pre-breakfast BSLs may be the only routine monitoring strategy for those with long term diabetes and ...

August 24, 2021

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Medication Advisory Committees and pharmaconutrition

Mechanisms and consequencesMedication Advisory Committees (MACs) are an ideal forum for addressing a range of issues that have a medication:nutrition ...

August 17, 2021

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Iron supplements – the bad and the ugly

Mechanisms and consequencesIron supplements are generally prescribed if serum iron levels are low and there is rarely any further intervention ...

August 10, 2021

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Toxic metals and drug transporters – is there a concern?

Mechanisms and consequencesMembrane transportersMembrane transporters are euphemistically called “drug transporters” however their primary role is to move physiological substances to ...

August 3, 2021

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Research numbers vs case numbers

Welcome!Welcome to the first edition of our weekly email - and thank you for your interest in pharmaconutrition.The content format ...