Nutritional Interactions - Nutrient-Drug Interactions

Question 1

What is a nutrient-drug interaction?

Answer 1

The effect of an active ingredient of a medicine or food on the food we eat
OR
the effect dietary treatments may have on the effectiveness of a drug

Question 2

What are the 2 types of nutrient-drug interactions?

Answer 2

1. Drug > Nutrient (effects nutritional status)

2. Food > Drug (effects efficiency of medication)

Question 3

What behaviours are associated with nutrient-drug interactions?

Answer 3

• Multiple medications at once
• Alcohol consumption
• Eating disorders
• Drug addiction
• Restrictive diets

Question 4

What are the 3 categories of nutrient-drug interaction? What happens within each category?

Answer 4

• Physiological
  (drug-induced appetite changes, metabolism, excretion e.g. contraceptive pill can cause weight gain)
• Physiochemical (chelation of a nutrient by a drug, loss of nutrient or lower drug activity e.g. alcohol and certain antibiotics, anticoagulants)
• Pathophysiological
  (Drug impairs nutrient absorption or metabolism e.g. laxatives, antacids)

Question 5

~nutrient-drug FACT~

Answer 5

Nutrient-drug interactions are bidirectional.

Question 6

What is one nutritional absorption problem cause by antihyperlipidemic drugs?

Answer 6

Reduced fat absorption = reduced fat soluble vitamins (A, D E, K)

Question 7

What are a list of common drugs that cause nutrient-drug interactions?

Answer 7

• Aspirin
• Laxatives
• Antibiotics
• Antihyperlipidemic
• Diuretics
• Anticoagulants

Question 8

What are some examples of drug-nutrient interactions?

Answer 8

Laxatives can negatively affect the absorption of many nutrients due to the decreased time of food spent in the gut.

Excessive/regular alcohol intake can negatively affect the absorption of specific nutrients such as vitamin b12, folic acid and zinc.