The “Abonit D” website warned that statins, which are used to reduce the level of harmful LDL cholesterol (LDL) very effectively, may interact with some foods and medications.
The website, which is the official portal for German pharmacists, explained that “statins” may interact, for example, with grapefruit juice, which weakens the effectiveness of lipid-lowering drugs, indicating that the secret of these drug interactions lies in an enzyme in liver cells known as “CYP3A4”, which metabolizes “statins” and gets rid of them.
However, substances in grapefruit interfere with enzyme function, leading to the accumulation of statins in the body.
In addition to grapefruit juice, other substances that inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme include ginseng, turmeric, calcium channel blockers, some antifungal drugs, and macrolide antibiotics.
Drug interactions may also cause high concentrations of statins in the body, leading to an increase in the severity of the common side effects of statins, which are muscle pain.
To avoid these drug interactions, you should avoid these foods and medications when taking statins.