Grapefruit Helps Drug Absorption

Grapefruit

Grapefruit can inhibit the enzyme in the intestinal wall that slows drugs to enter the bloodstream. The consumption of grapefruit with drugs for cholesterol (statins), psychiatry (valium, zoloft), painkillers (methadone), and cancer drug (sirolimus / rapamycin) causes the drugs get into the bloodstream faster.

A recent study by researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), United States, found a positive side of grapefruit. The consumption of oranges can reduce the dose of sirolimus to minimize the side effects of drugs.

The study, reported in the journal Clinical Cancer Research and quoted by LiveScience on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012, was led by a cancer expert of UCM, Ezra Cohen. The study involved 138 cancer patients who were divided into three groups.

The result, those who only took sirolimus needed a dose of 90 mg per week. Those who drank grapefruit juice only needed 25-35 mg of sirolimus per week. The sirolimus and ketoconazole group needed 16 mg of sirolimus per week. However, grapefruit juice is recommended because it is natural and cheap.