Next time you take your meds, you may want to wash them down with a glass of water. According to new research, various fruit juices may hinder drugs' absorption by the body. The same scientist who several years ago discovered grapefruit juice's ability to potentially turn normal amounts of medication into toxic doses is now reporting that the grapefruit juice—and others like apple and orange—can, in some other meds, basically do the opposite, by blocking a mechanism in the intestine that carries drugs to the bloodstream. What this means for you: If you take certain drugs with grapefruit or other fruit juices, you may be getting only half of your intended prescription. For now, grapefruit, apple, and orange juice are the only ones shown to decrease drug absorption, but this, researchers say, may only be the beginning. Expect to hear about more juices and the medications they alter in the future.

Don't drink juice with these:

Etoposide, a chemotherapy drug
Atenolol, Celiprolol, or Talinolol, all used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and heart attacks
Cyclosporine, used to prevent organ transplant rejection
Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, or Itraconazole, antibiotics

Source: National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 2008

Web Exclusive: Another reason to skip the juice

Obesity Writ Small

Fat cells from the thighs of obese people are dysfunctional compared to those from lean people, according to new research. The obese fat cells had problems processing fats and proteins. Because obesity is caused by an excess of nutrients, researchers suspect that the cells have been stressed by the work of processing the fallout from this glut. Other studies have found that this kind of cellular stress can trigger the activation of factors associated with inflammation, a possible cause of type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance, a key feature of the condition. Perhaps, speculate the authors, these observations uncover a previously unknown mechanism by which obesity can lead to diabetes.
Source: Diabetes, September 2008

A Warning on Eastern Meds

Some alternative medicines have been determined to contain unhealthy levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic. Recent research found that 21 percent of ayurvedic medicines--plant-based health products used in Indian medicine--studied contained the dangerous chemical components. Ayurvedic medicines are used for a variety of conditions, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular treatments. The products in the study were purchased online, but previous research found similar results in ayurvedic medicines purchased in Boston-area stores.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, Aug. 27, 2008