By the way, doctor: Is it okay to drink grapefruit juice, as long as I don't take my statin at the same time?
Grapefruit contains compounds that interfere with digestive enzymes that break down (metabolize) various drugs — especially the enzyme CYP34A, which is part of a large family of drug-metabolizing enzymes called cytochrome P450. This increases the amount of drug absorbed and thus the amount in the bloodstream. Other chemicals in grapefruit alter the activity of proteins responsible for transporting some drugs through the wall of the intestine. This also boosts drug absorption and blood levels of the drug.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
