The connection between grapefruit and liver function shows how diet can affect the chemical processes that occur in the body. The chemical properties of grapefruit make following a grapefruit diet a health risk for those on medication that affects liver function.
Grapefruit Diet
The so-called grapefruit or Hollywood diet has been around since the 1930s, according to a 2006 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Its premise is to increase grapefruit consumption for a short-term solution for weight loss. The study found that following the diet helped stabilize insulin levels that might support its purported effects.
Benefits
Grapefruit as a dietary supplement offers many potential health benefits. It is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, providing more than 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance for vitamin C for adult women. This nutrient is necessary for the formation of collagen, which is the basis of blood vessels, ligaments and other connective tissue. Grapefruit is often used for patients suffering from potassium deficiencies. It might also lower cholesterol, which points to its possible effects on the liver.
Liver Function
Cholesterol is transported to the liver, where it is broken down and used to synthesize cell membranes and perform other essential life functions. Grapefruit might negatively affect liver function by interfering with certain enzymes, which are chemicals that cause and speed up chemical reactions in the body. The liver metabolizes and processes toxins in the body. The interactions between grapefruit and liver function explain some of the problems which might develop when following the grapefruit diet, according to the book "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems."
Warning
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor will likely prescribe statin drugs. Grapefruit interferes with these drugs by affecting the action of a specific enzyme that is responsible for metabolizing more than 60 percent of the commonly prescribed medications, warns a 2010 study in the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa. This interaction slows the metabolism of some cholesterol-lowering drugs, possibly leading to a toxic buildup of the drug.
Prevention/Solution
If you are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, calcium channel blockers, estrogen or quinidine, consult your doctor before making changes to your diet, including increasing your grapefruit consumption. You should also avoid the grapefruit diet if you have any liver condition. Because of possible drug interaction, notify your doctor before beginning any new course of medication.
References
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; The Effects of Grapefruit on Weight and Insulin Resistance: Relationship to the Metabolic Syndrome; K. Fujioka et al; Spring 2006
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory
- Drugsite Trust: Grapefruit
- "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems"; L. Sherwood; 2008
- "Cardiovascular Journal of Africa"; The Grapefruit: an Old Wine in a New Glass? Metabolic and Cardiovascular Perspectives; J. Owira and P. OjewoleSeptember 2010
