Introduction:
A drug-nutrient interaction is the effect of nutrients in food on the medication. The drug taken by an individual can change how a nutrient is absorbed, metabolized, or excreted. Foods and nutrients interact with medicines in several ways. The food consumption and medication taken by an individual will make them work either faster or slower or even prevent them from working.
How Do Nutrients and Drugs Interact With Each Other in an Individual Body?
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The way the body uses nutrients in food affects prescription and over-the-counter medication. Along with it, certain foods and nutrients influence the action of drugs.
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Sometimes it raises concern when the medicine and the nutrients in the body interact and cause nutritional deficiency. Apart from this, the diet taken by an individual may change how the medication works in the body.
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It does not mean people must use vitamin or mineral supplements while taking medication.
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Short-term use of medicine, such as ten-day treatment, has little chance of affecting the individual nutritional status.
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Nutritional health was affected by using particular medicine for months or years.
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People should prefer to take vitamin or mineral supplements rather than changing their diet to include foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
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The working of the medicine in the body is affected by the intake of excess vitamins and mineral supplements.
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The risk of medicine affecting the nutritional health of an individual body is seen in poorly nourished people and people with chronic diseases: pregnant women, children, and older adults.
What Are the Drug-Nutrient Interactions in an Individual Body and Their Examples?
Effects of drug and nutrient interactions in the body with examples are given below:
Effect 1: Nutrient Absorption Is Decreased by Intake of Medicine.
Example 1:
There is a decrease in folate absorption in the body by taking anticonvulsant drugs.
Example 2:
Laxatives help food to rush through the body, causing poor nutrient absorption. And it can also decrease the absorption of many vitamins and minerals.
Effect 2: A Decrease in Appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Unpleasant Taste, or Dry Mouth Is Seen in Certain Medications.
Poor food intake affects the nutritional health of an individual.
Example 1:
People with many cancer medications and treatments resulting in poor food intake may have nausea, vomiting, and sore or dry mouth.
Example 2:
Loss of appetite directly affects food intake by consuming medications like appetite suppressants.
Effect 3:An Individual Body’s Ability to Metabolize Nutrients Is Interfered With by the Intake of Medicine.
Example:
There is an increase in the metabolism of folate, vitamin D, and vitamin K by the intake of some anticonvulsant drugs, which alter the activity of liver enzymes.
Effect 4: Intake of Medicine Leads to a Nutrient Loss in an Individual.
Example:
An excess amount of fluid is removed with the help of diuretics.
Proper functioning of the heart and other muscles requires potassium, but intake of diuretics causes an increase in potassium loss along with fluids.
Effect 5: Nutrient Production Is Slowed Down by the Intake of Medicine
Example:
In the intestine, vitamin K is produced by bacteria. Antibiotic intake by an individual helps kill harmful bacteria and helpful bacteria, which helps build vitamin K in the intestine.
What Are the Food-Drug Interactions in an Individual Body?
Alter the effectiveness of medicine in many ways. Food and nutrients play an essential role.
To Remove the Medicine From an Individual Body Needs Food and Nutrients:
Example:
The liver's enzymes help remove the medicine from the body.
Enzymes work perfectly in an individual body and require nutrients
Medicine may still stay active in the body if nutrients are not present.
Drugs Metabolism or Drug Action in the Body Is Interfered With by Drugs and Nutrients:
Example 1:
Effects of certain anticoagulants in the body decrease the vitamin K.
Example 2:
A tyramine chemical interacts with medication monoamine oxidase inhibitors present in aged and aged and fermented foods.
Blood pressure is commonly seen in this type of interaction.
Drug Absorption Is Increased or Decreased by Food Intake:
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The drug's effect is reduced by absorbing the less-than-intended dose.
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There is an increased chance of absorbing more than the intended dose.
Example 1:
Antibiotic tetracycline helps to bind dietary calcium. Therefore, the amount of antibiotic in the body does not allow it to absorb.
Example 2:
When the stomach is empty, the drugs are easily and quickly absorbed into an individual's body. The medication absorption process in the body is slowed down by food in the stomach. So take medicine along with food.
But other people should take medicine on an empty stomach one hour or 2 hours after eating.
So it is essential to read the instructions on the medicine when an individual takes it with or without food.
How Does Prescription Medication Helps Nutrition Requirements?
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Metabolism of certain nutrients, resulting in high dietary requirements of that particular nutrient action sped up by a drug in the body.
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Few drugs help to increase or decrease or prevent nutrient breakdown and nutrient absorption in the body.
What Supplements Are Prescribed for an Individual?
The most commonly prescribed supplements for nutritional requirements include:
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Vitamin D: most commonly prescribed one.
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Calcium: frequently given for bone health.
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Folic acid.
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Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil).
Do Individuals Need a Prescription for Supplements?
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People should take supplements with enough essential nutrients to maintain or improve their health.
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Commonly used supplements are minerals, vitamins, and herbal products known as botanicals.
Nutrient absorption in the gut is prevented by increasing or decreasing the intake of certain drugs in the body.
What Are the Guidelines for Oral Nutritional Supplements in Adults?
The purpose of the guidelines primarily advises prescribing appropriate nutritional supplements.
Given below are the five steps for prescribing nutritional supplements include:
Step 1: Firstly identify the nutritional requirements of the body of an individual.
Step 2: Underlying cause of malnutrition is assessed.
Step 3: Individuals should set a treatment goal and food-boosting or fortification advice.
Step 4: An individual should make food fortification or food-boosting offerings.
Step 5: Try to prescribe individuals with ONS (Office of nutritional statistics).
Conclusion:
The various ways and steps involved in interactions between a drug and food products range from absorption, ingestion metabolism, and excretion of both the drug and food product. The effects induced by food-drug interactions, like increased blood drug levels, have more potential therapeutic benefits. At the same time, detrimental physiological effects are produced by some interaction between food and drugs in an individual's body. Therefore it is essential to understand their specific products individually and examine the potential interaction between the food and medicines.
