Drugs Can Sabotage Your Nutrition

You're doing everything you can to eat right. You pay careful attention to getting all of the right nutrients, and that means you're probably taking vitamin and mineral supplements. And you're sure that you have all your nutritional bases covered. But do you really?

If you regularly take medication, either prescription or over the counter, you should be aware of the fact that some drugs are potential nutrition robbers. Nutrition researchers now know that drug-nutrient interaction is a potentially serious problem. Some drugs can remove nutrients from your body, prevent absorption of nutrients or affect the body's ability to convert nutrients into usable forms. In fact, medical experts have determined that of the top 25 drugs prescribed most often, 19 have the potential for causing serious nutrient deficiencies.

Pregnant and nursing women, infants and the elderly may be even more at risk. They may be more deficient in essential nutrients to begin with.

The table that follows lists some common prescription drugs and their nutrient interactions. If you're taking any of these drugs, you may want to check with your doctor to see if you should increase your intake of the nutrients that the medication affects.

How can you prevent nutrient deficiencies caused by medication? Here are several suggestions from Arthur I. Jacknowitz, Pharm.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

* Make sure you understand the patient information provided to you with your prescription drug. If you have any questions, ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.

* When you buy an over-the-counter product, read the label carefully. If you're confused about ingredients, don't hesitate to ask about them.

* Follow your doctor's instructions about when to take a medication.

* The actions of some drugs may be enhanced or lessened by certain foods and beverages. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist how drugs may interact with your favorite foods, especially if you eat large amounts of them.

* Eat a nutritionally well-balanced diet with a wide variety of foods.

Drug Class	Treatment for . . .	Generic Name	May Interfere with . . .
Antacids	Indigestion	Aluminum hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate	Calcium, copper, folate
Antibacterial agents	Chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections	Boric acid Isoniazid Trimethoprim	Riboflavin Niacin, vitamin B₆, vitamin D Folate
Antibiotics	Bacterial infections	Gentamicin Tetracycline	Magnesium, potassium Calcium
Anti-cancer drugs	Tumors	Cisplatin Methotrexate	Magnesium Calcium, folate
Anticoagulants	Blood clots	Warfarin	vitamin K
Anticonvulsants	Epilepsy, seizures	Phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone	Vitamin D, vitamin K
Antihypertensive agents	High blood pressure	Hydralazine	Vitamin B₆
Anti-inflammatory agents	Inflammation, swelling	Aspirin Colchicine Prednisone Sulfasalazine	Folate, iron, vitamin C Vitamin B₁₂ Calcium Folate
Antimalarials	Malaria	Pyrimethamine	Folate
Diuretics	High blood pressure, water retention	Furosemide Thiazides Triamterene	Calcium, magnesium, potassium Potassium Folate
H₂ receptor antagonists	Peptic ulcers	Cimetidine, ranitidine	Vitamin B₁₂
Hypocholesterolemic agents	High blood cholesterol	Colestipol	Folate, vitamin A, vitamin B₁₂, vitamin K
Laxatives	Constipation	Mineral oil Phenolphthalein Senna	Vitamin D, vitamin K Potassium Calcium
Tranquilizers	Depression, sleeping problems	Chlorpromazine	Riboflavin

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