Scientists Identify Grapefruit Juice's "Dangerous" Componet
Scientists at UNC have found a harmful chemical in grapefruit juice which weakens the intestine's metabolism.
A drug called "furanocoumarims" has been found to weaken help certain drugs too pass through the intestine and enter the bloodstream. Usually the drugs, which are used to stabilitise or lower blood pressure, have to fight an enzyme called CYP3A which usually destroys the blood pressure drugs.
The research was conducted at the University of North Carolina lead by Dr. Paul Watkins. His team tested the effects on the body of the the blood pressure pill "felodipine" taken with orange juice (which does not contain furanocoumarims) and non furanocoumarim grapefuit juice. The study confirms what many doctors had known before, that certain blood pressure pills taken with grapefruit juice could be harmful.
The research was conducted at the University of North Carolina lead by Dr. Paul Watkins. His team tested the effects on the body of the the blood pressure pill "felodipine" taken with orange juice (which does not contain furanocoumarims) and non furanocoumarim grapefuit juice. The study confirms what many doctors had known before, that certain blood pressure pills taken with grapefruit juice could be harmful.