Pharmaceuticals - Nutritional Risk Factors

What you should know about...

In this day and age where dietary supplements are increasing with popularity there are studies being conducted on the interaction and/or increase risk aspect for nutritional induced factors - in other words ‘pharmaceutically- induced nutritional deficiencies.’ The lack of knowledge on this subject in the medical world and the pharmaceutical-using individuals, can easily lead to an increased risk for interaction or nutritional deficiencies.

Pharmaceuticals can provide important benefits to patients with medical problems but consumers/patients should know and understand the possible risk and/or potential depletion of nutrients associated with their use.

Pharmaceutical Medicine and possible nutritional deficiencies :

Aspirin
Nutrients deficiency: Iron, Folic Acid & Vitamin C

ACE inhibitors (eg. Benazepril, Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Moexipril, Perindopril, Erbumine, Quinapril, Ramipril, Spirapril, Trandolapril),
Nutrients deficiency: Zinc

Alendronate (including all bisphosphonates)
Nutrients deficiency: Calcium

Antacids (Aluminium salts)
Nutrients deficiency: Copper & Zinc, Magnesium & Calcium, Iron

Antacids (Calcium salts)
Nutrients deficiency: Copper & Zinc, Magnesium & Calcium, Iron

Antacids (Magnesium salts)
Nutrients deficiency: Copper & Zinc, Magnesium & Calcium, Iron

Antibiotic ISONIAZID (anti-TB medication)
Nutrients deficiency: Calcium & Vitamin D, Lactobacillus (Probiotics), Vitamins B3, B6, E, Vitamin K

Antibiotics Aminoglycosides (eg. Gentamicin, Neomycin, Tobramycin)
Nutrients deficiency: Calcium & Magnesium, Iron, Lactobacillus (Probiotics), Vitamin K, Vitamins A & B12

Antibiotics Cephalosporins (eg. Cefaclor, Cefprozil, Cefuroxime, Loracarbef)
Nutrients deficiency: Lactobacillus (Probiotics)

Macrolides (eg. Erythromycin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin) also
Penicillin (eg. Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Flucloxacillin, Pivampicillin)
Nutrients deficiency: Vitamins B2, B12, Folic Acid, Biotin

Quinolones (eg. Ciprofloxacin, Gatifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Lomefloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Nalidixic Acid, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin, Sparfloxacin, Travafloxacin)
Nutrients deficiency: Vitamin K

Anti-inflammatories NSAIDs (eg. Diclofenac, Etodolac, Fenoprofen, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Ketoprofen, Mefanamic acid, Melofenamate, Nabumetone, Naproxen, Oxaprozin, Piroxicam, Sulindac, Tolmetin)
Nutrients deficiency: Iron & Folic Acid, Zinc, Melatonin

Anti-retrovirals (eg. Lamivudine (3TC), Didanosine (ddl) , Zalcitabine (ddC), Stavudine (d4T), Ribavirin, Zidovudine (AZT), Abacavir (ABC), Emtricitabine (FTC), Tenofovir, Adefovir, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Delavirdine)
Nutrients deficiency: Copper & Zinc

Barbiturates (eg. Phenobarbital)
Nutrients deficiency: Calcium & Vitamin D, Folic Acid & Vitamib B12

Betablockers (eg. Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol, Carteolol, Celiprolol, Esmolol, Labetalol, Levobetaxolol, Levobunolol, Metipranolol, Metoprolol, Nadolol, Penbutolol, Pindolol, Propranolol, Sotalol, Timolol)
Nutrients deficiency: Melatonin

Birth Control Pill (oestrogen/progestin combination) mono/bi & triphasic (eg. Ethinyl estradiol, Desogestrel, Levonorgestrel, Norethindrone, Norgestimate)
Nutrients deficiency: Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamins B2, B6, B12, C & Folic Acid

Carbemazepine
Nutrients deficiency: Folic Acid

Cholestyramine & Colestipol (bile sequestrants)
Nutrients deficiency: Vitamins A,D,E,B12 & Folic Acid & Betacarotene, Vitamin K

Clonidine
Nutrients deficiency: Co-enzyme Q10

Corticosteroids (eg. Prednisone, Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Beclometasone, Dexamethasone, Triamcinolone)
Nutrients deficiency: Calcium & Magnesium, DHEA, Protein, Vitamins C,D,B6,B12, Folic Acid, Selenium & Zinc, Melatonin

For a continued List – read Prescription Drug- Nutritional Risk Factors

This information is for informational purpose only and is not intended to replace the care or advice of a physician.