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Experts at Harvard Health Medical School have explained why this particular citrus fruit, along with its juice, should be eliminated from your diet when taking certain medicines. The chemical reaction between specific drugs and the fruit can cause problems, sometimes leading to "toxic" outcomes.
Statins are broken down in the intestines by an enzyme known as CYP3A before entering the bloodstream, a process that is disrupted after consuming grapefruit. Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins, substances that inhibit CYP3A, leading to greater drug absorption and potentially making it "toxic in some cases".
That said, grapefruit does not significantly affect all statin treatments, meaning complete avoidance is not always necessary. A doctor may suggest switching from those medications most severely impacted, including atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin.
