biochemistry It’s exciting, but creepy at times. And the fact is that it is precisely because of this that some completely safe and even useful products can become deadly under very specific conditions. This is the case, for example, with some citrus fruits, among which stands out grapefruit.
Before talking about this topic, recently covered in the article Scientific AlertIn this regard, it is important to reassure. Grapefruit is not toxic or anything like that. It’s completely safe. What happens is that it affects how do we metabolize certain drugs. Therefore, if we do not get treated, there is nothing to be afraid of. In addition, this does not happen with all drugs, and the consequences are not always fatal. It is important to be aware of what is happening, to know the information and to know that in case of doubt we must ask our doctor.
With that said, let’s take a look at why grapefruit can be so dangerous. This is actually quite curious as it is related to a substance known for many other irritating effects, such as the fact that making a Margarita cocktail causes severe burns.
Why is grapefruit dangerous?
Citrus fruits typically contain substances called furanocuraminesknown as phototoxic. That is, they are toxic only in the presence of light. In fact, some of them can cause very large burns. This effect is commonly known as chamomile burnbecause it is common in people who make cocktails with lime or lemon at beaches and pools.
But there are some furanocuramines that have other effects besides phototoxicity. This is the case bergamottin and dihydroxybergamottinwhich can be found in citrus fruits such as bergamot, Seville orange, widely used to make jams, or, of course, grapefruit.
What happens to these substances is that they act on a protein called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4)responsible for helping in the metabolism of drugs. It is found in strategic locations, such as the liver or intestines, and its function is to break down foreign substances into small fragments, making them easier to remove. Among these foreign substances, of course, there are drugs.
This happens gradually so that the drug can perform its function without accumulating in the body. If we eat grapefruit, problems may arise. This is CYP3A4 slows downTherefore, it cannot work properly. This means that drugs cannot be excreted from the body and accumulate, which greatly increases their effectiveness. side effects. In some cases, for example, when taking certain antihistamines, the opposite happens: the effect is reduced. This is less dangerous, but also less common.
What medications should be avoided?
In 2014, a study was conducted to analyze which medications should be monitored before use. take a grapefruit. They can be consulted at this link, but we can see a few examples of the most consumed ones.
Those to be avoided include sildenafilbetter known as viagra, colchicineused by patients with gout, or lovastatinused to lower cholesterol levels. On the other hand, among those that should be used with caution, we have diazepamalso known as Valium, an antibiotic erythromycinantidepressant fluvoxamine And tamoxifenused as adjunctive therapy in patients with breast cancer.
The more grapefruit, the worse
With a single dose of grapefruit, nothing should happen. This will affect drug absorption, but the consequences will not be serious. The problem arises when it becomes a habit. For example, if you take grapefruit juice every morning at breakfast.
In these cases, it may be worth checking with a doctor to find out if the medications we are taking might be causing us problems when combined with this fruit.
Do not panic, but having this information is important in order to act more consciously. Information is power, we always say that. Especially when health is at stake.
Source: Hiper Textual
