7 million taking cholesterol drug urged 'don't eat this fruit' because of side effects

Brits are urged to consume plenty of fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. Yet health experts have cautioned that those taking specific medicines should avoid certain produce due to compounds that could interfere with crucial treatments.

Across England, roughly5.3 million people received statin or ezetimibeprescriptions from their GPs to tackle cholesterol during 2023-24. This marks a record high and represents a substantial rise from the year before.

An estimated 7-8 million adults throughout the UK are on statins, establishing them as a vital component in preventing heart disease But one expert has warned that anyone in this situation should steer clear of grapefruit.

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Writing on The Conversation website, Dipa Kamdar, senior lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at Kingston University, said: "While there are many benefits that can come from following a healthier diet, it's important that any diet changes are made carefully. This is especially true if you're someone who takes a prescription drug, as many health food staples can negatively interact with them."

Regarding grapefruit juice, she explained: "To break down some prescription drugs in the body, the liver uses enzymes called cytochrome P450. But grapefruit juice contains chemical compounds called furanocoumarins which can block the action of these enzymes. If this happens, some drugs can accumulate in the body.

"This includes ciclosporin, a drug that's commonly used to prevent organ transplant rejection and manage symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and skin conditions such as psoriasis. A build-up of ciclosporin can cause many side-effects, ranging from mild nausea and vomiting to kidney and liver damage."

Regarding the anti-cholesterol medication, she continued: "Statins, often used to treat high cholesterol levels and prevent heart attacks and strokes, can also be affected by grapefruit juice through the same mechanism. Increased statin levels in the body can raise the risk of side-effects, including muscle breakdown, which is rare but serious.

"Many other drugs can potentially interact with grapefruit juice as well – including amlodipine (a common high blood pressure drug) and sildenafil (an erectile dysfunction drug). If you take any of these prescriptions drugs, it's best to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before drinking even small amounts of grapefruit juice. It may even be best to avoid it altogether."

The NHS warns: "Grapefruit juice can affect some statins and increase your risk of side effects. A doctor may advise you to avoid it completely or only consume small quantities."

TheBritish Heart Foundation states: "You may be told to avoid eating and drinking grapefruit while taking certain statins. This is because it can increase the amount of statin in your blood, which can increase the risk of side effects.

"Do not eat or drink grapefruit if you're taking simvastatin. If you take atorvastatin, you can have grapefruit and grapefruit juice, but have it only occasionally and not a large quantity. If you take another type of statin, grapefruit is not thought to be a problem."

Why are people prescribed statins?

Statins help lower the cholesterol level in your blood. This helps lower your risk of heart and circulatory conditions, such as:

• coronary heart disease and angina (chest pain and discomfort)
• heart attack
• stroke.