Appendix A
COMMON DRUG AND NUTRIENT INTERACTIONS

 
Therapeutic Class Drug Nutrient Interaction
Alcohols Ethanol Reduced absorption of fat, retinol, thiamin, cobalamin and folate; impaired utilization and storage of retinol; increased urinary excretion of zinc and magnesium.
Analgesics Aspirin Increased urinary excretion of ascorbic acid; may cause GI bleeding and subsequent iron deficiency; increased folate and vitamin D requirements.
Antacids Al or Ca containing Reduced iron, copper, phosphate and magnesium absorption.
Antibiotics Penicillins

Aminoglycosides

Chloramphenicol

Increased urinary excretion of amino acids; reduced intestinal vitamin K and cobalamin synthesis; possible malabsorption of fat, cobal- amin, calcium, magnesium and carotenoids.
Anticoagulants Coumadin Vitamin K decreases & tocopherol increases drug effect.
Anticonvulsants Phenobarbital

Phenytoin

Folate antagonists; Increased vitamin D, vitamin K and pyridoxine requirements; Impaired vitamin D metabolism leading to hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia.
Antidepressants Imipramine May induce riboflavin deficiency; increased appetite.
Antihypertensives Hydralazine Pyridoxine antagonist; increased urinary excretion of manganese and pyridoxine.
Antimalarials Pyrimethamine

Sulfadoxine

Folate antagonists.
Antineoplastics Methotrexate Folate antagonist; may impair fat, calcium, cobalamin, lactose, folate and carotene absorption.
Antitubercular Isoniazid Accelerated metabolism of pyridoxine - subsequent pyridoxine deficiency blocks conversion of tryptophan to niacin leading to niacin deficiency; reduced calcium absorption; reduced conversion of Vitamin D by the liver.
Antiulcer Cimetidine Impaired cobalamin absorption.
Cardiac Glycosides Digoxin Increased urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium and zinc. Anorexia.
Corticosteroids Hydrocortisone

Prednisone

Dexamethasone

Reduced calcium and phosphate absorption; increased urinary calcium, potassium, ascorbic acid, zinc and nitrogen excretion. Increased pyridoxine and vitamin D metabolic requirements.
Diuretics Furosemide

Thiazides

Spironolactone

Increased urinary potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, zinc and iodine excretion; reduced calcium excretion leading to hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia with thiazides, increased calcium excretion with furosemide.
Increased urinary sodium and chloride; reduced urinary potassium excretion.
Hypocholesterolemic Agents Cholestyramine

Colestipol

Reduced absorption of fat, fat soluble vitamins, calcium, cobalamin, folate.
Laxatives Bisacodyl

Phenolthalein

Mineral Oil

Abuse leads to general malabsorption, steatorrhea and dehydration. Malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins, electrolytes,calcium.
Oral Contraceptives Conjugated estrogens

Ethinyl estradiol

Mestranol

Increased folic acid & possibly pyridoxine & ascorbic acid requirements; reduced calcium excretion, altered tryptophan metabolism.
Stimulants Caffeine Increased urinary calcium excretion.


Table of Contents | Appendix B