How Grapefruit Affects Drug Absorption
The secret to the interaction between grapefruits and statins is in furanocoumarins, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Furanocoumarins are organic chemical compounds present in many different plants, including grapefruit.
The furanocoumarins inhibit the efficacy of an important enzyme. This enzyme normally helps your body process the medication you take, balancing out how much of it goes into your bloodstream. Because furanocoumarins hinder this enzyme, larger amounts of the drug persist your bloodstream.