Most people are aware that medications can
interact with one another, but many may not be aware of the interaction of
certain food with supplement or medications. These interactions may either lead
to impaired absorption or altered metabolismÂ
Iron present in food and supplements has
numerous interactions. Heme iron found in meat is effectively absorbed compared
to non-heme iron found in plant foods and supplements. The reason for effective
absorption of heme iron is that when we eat meat, we absorb blood proteins, the
haemoglobin and myoglobin contained in the flesh of an animal while for
non-heme absorbance one should consume vitamin C rich foods during meals. Forexample,
some lemon juice drizzled over leafy greens will increase the amount of
absorbance. For iron to absorbed it has to be soluble and ionized to ferrous
iron (+2 oxidation state), this absorption is enhanced by gastric acid in the
stomach where iron is firstly absorbed and the rest is absorbed in the
intestine. Supplements such as protein inhibitors and antacids reduce the
effective absorption of iron by reducing the concentration of acid present in
the stomach, also regume, wheat bran, dairy foods and tannin found in tea acts
as iron absorption inhibitors.
ferrous iron (+2) hence enhances its absorption. Ferrous iron interacts with
antibiotics such as ciproflaxin, tetracycline and thyroid medications impairs
their absorption hence potentially reduces their interactions,
supplements, have several food and drug interaction. Like iron, calcium is also
absorbed in ionic form, therefore it has to be in soluble form and requires
acidic environment for optimal absorption mostly in calcium carbonate form.
Calcium is absorbed in the ileum therefore acid reducing supplements do not
interfere in its absorption, phytates and oxalic acid found in spinach, sweet
potatoes and beans binds calcium, creating calcium complex that cannot be
absorbed. Calcium interacts with some medications by inhibiting or reducing
absorption they include, quinone antibiotics and thyroid medications.