INTERACTION OF FOODS AND DRUGS INVOLVING NUTRIENTS AND ENZIMES

Healthcare providers, such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and dietitians, have to be aware of important food - drug interactions in order to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of prescribed and over - the - counter drugs. Here, we review some of the most widely consumed fruits and vegetables to inform healthcare providers of possible nu ‐ trient - drug interactions and their potential clinical significance. A Thousands of drugs are commercially available and a great percentage of the population takes at least one pharmacologically active agent on a regular basis. Given this magnitude of use and variability in individual nutritional status, dietary habits and f ood composition, there is a high potential for drug - nutrient interactions. However, there is a relatively short list of documented fruit - drug or vegetable - drug interactions, necessitating further and e x tensive clinical evaluation. There are currently few studies that combine a nutrient - based and detailed pharmac ological approach , or studies that systematically explore the risk and benefi ts of fruit and vegetables . There are numerous patients who encounter increased risks of adverse events associated with drug - nutrient interactions. These include elderly patients, patients with cancer and/ or malnutrition, gastrointestinal tract dysfunctions, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and chronic diseases that require the use of multiple drugs, as well as those re ceiving enteral nu ‐ trition or transplants. Therefore, the main reason for devoting a major review to nutrient - drug interactions is the enormous importance of fruits and vegetables used for their beneficial effects as nutrients and as components in folk me dicine