Nutrition is defined as the intake and use of adequate and balanced amounts from all food groups according to the age, type, height, weight, activity, and all the other health conditions of each individual and yet nutrition ensures growth and development in our lives by repairing worn-out tissues and providing energy for physical activity. To understand the aspects of nutrition not only nutrition but also medicines and supplements are being subjects of scientific studies.
Medicines, the general name of substances used in the treatment of diseases and improving health are essential. For this reason, it is necessary not to overlook the issue of food-drug interaction and to make this issue more common and known to the public as great risks can occur with the exposure of drugs to many interactions.
Drug interactions, which can be defined as a qualitative or quantitative change in the effect of a drug with another drug or food, can be seen when drugs are used without precision and with the nutrients that can interact with the drug. Drug interactions with food or nutrients can be seen frequently in treatment practices and may adversely affect the treatment results of the patient.
Since the pharmacist is the closest health counselor that the public can reach, the pharmacist has a great role in preventing drug interactions and informing patients about drug interactions. In addition, dietitians and doctors should tell the patient about the interactions of the drugs used by their patients, which foods the drug reduces the absorption of vitamins and minerals in, and the complications that may occur because of the interaction. More caution should be exercised in patients are on multiple drugs, as significant drug interactions are more likely to occur. Patients should be informed about the interactions of vitamin, mineral supplements, and natural source supplements that we consider safe.
Food-drug interaction mechanisms are multifaceted, developing in vitro (chemically within foods and drugs) or in vivo (inside the body-gastrointestinal tract). These interactions can be physical, chemical, physiological, and physiopathological interactions.
For an interaction to be clinically significant, a clinically reflected change must occur in the state and effect of the drug or nutrient. If some nutrients in the food are taken orally at the same time as some drugs, the absorption and treatment efficiency of the drug may alter, the nutrients may interact with the drug and cause unexpected or unpleasant side effects.
The effectiveness of many drugs can change through absorption if the person is hungry or full at that time, it should be stated that the drugs will be used with or without food.
Some drugs can affect the nutritional status of the person, prevent the use of nutrients in the body, and change their excretion from the body which might cause further nutritional deficiencies.
Some Hints
Antibiotics; when taken with acidic foods, fruit juices, caffeine, and tomatoes, stomach acid increases thus affecting the absorption of the drug, some antibiotics should not be consumed with dairy products at the same meal as calcium can reduce the bioavailability of the drug. Calcium-containing antacids have the same effect.
Anticoagulants (drugs that prevent blood clotting) Can be taken on an empty or full stomach but vitamin K supplement or natural amounts in food makes the drug less effective. Green leafy vegetables should be consumed in a balanced way. Vitamin K-rich potatoes, bananas, apricots, broccoli, cabbage, black cabbage, spinach, lettuce, radish should be consumed with caution. Blueberries, garlic, ginger, ginseng, ginkgo, and alcohol should not be used on the other should not be consumed.
Antidepressants can be taken on an empty or full stomach. The medicine should be swallowed whole, not chewed as It interacts with calcium channel blockers so grapefruit or its juice should not be taken.
If antiepileptic drugs are taken with alcohol, blood pressure decreases.
Interaction of bronchodilators
It is related to the ionic forms, the capsules can be swallowed whole, or the capsule can be opened and mixed with puree, pudding, and consumed. Using it with drinks containing caffeine causes extreme excitement and palpitation, alcohol use increases side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
Alcohol should not be used before or after antihistamines, as it can increase side effects such as drowsiness and drowsiness.
Analgesic-antipyretics interact with alcohol to increase the risk of liver damage.
Corticosteroids should not be taken on an empty stomach; they cause stomach pain and nausea and should be taken with milk on a full stomach.
Antifungal drugs should be taken during meals, they are more effective when taken with fatty foods. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain is seen when taken with dairy products and alcohol.
As the list is endless and other individual characteristics can interrelate personal nutritional adjustments must be done for people on drugs and awareness of food-drug interactions must be spread.
