Explain Effect of Nutrient Supplements on Drugs?
A nutrient or nutrient supplement can alter the pharmacological action of a drug by enhancing the drug effect or by opposing it. These can result in drug-nutrient interactions. To illustrate, warfarin, is an oral anticoagulant that reduces the production of vitamin- K dependant clotting factors by inhibiting the conversion of vitamin K to a usable form. Because, this is a competitive interaction, the ingestion of vitamin K in the usable form (supplement) will oppose the action of warfarin and allow the production of more clotting factor. Therefore, to achieve an optimal level of coagulation, a balance must be maintained between the dose of the drug and the ingestion of vitamin K. On the other hand, ingestion of other nutrients like vitamin E in doses greater than 400 IU may enhance the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Enhancement of the anticoagulation effects of warfarin may lead to serious bleeding events. Further, in excessive amounts, vitamins and minerals act like drugs instead of nutrients. Nutrients in excessive amounts may interact with other nutrients or may even be toxic. For example, large amounts of ziric can interfere with copper and iron absorption. Similarly, large amounts of iron can interfere with zinc absorption.