If we already knew that grapefruit could dangerously interact with certain medications, another star fruit on the shelves could also disrupt the effectiveness of treatment and increase the risk of hemorrhage, warns a famous hospital.
The interaction between certain fruits and medications is already well known to the general public. Grapefruit, for example, taken at the same time as several types of medications, blocks an intestinal enzyme and poses a risk of dangerous overdose. But another star fruit on our summer shelves could also disrupt certain treatments: the mango. “Consumed in excess, it can inhibit the metabolism of drugs and, therefore, significantly increase the risk of internal bleeding”explains Cheng Hsin General Hospital in Taiwan to the Taipei Times. What medicine are we talking about?
To precisely measure this danger, researchers from Harvard Medical School examined around twenty clinical trials as well as numerous patient monitoring studies in order to evaluate the direct impact of targeted foods (such as grapefruit, cranberry, ginger or mango) on oral treatments, composed of a particular molecule.
According to the results of their research, mango interacts with a molecule called warfarin. Normally, the liver gradually destroys this product to prevent it from accumulating. However, according to the hypothesis put forward by the authors, vitamin A and the antioxidants in mango block the mechanisms responsible for this elimination. Result: the product stagnates in the body, the treatment becomes too powerful and the risk of bleeding increases. As a reminder, another drug dangerous for the liver was recently withdrawn from the market.
In France, Coumadin® is the only medicine marketed containing the warfarin molecule. Prescribed to “thinner the blood”, or more precisely to slow down its coagulation, this anticoagulant prevents the formation of fatal blood clots in people suffering from heart rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation), phlebitis or wearing an artificial heart valve. Be careful, however: warfarin is not the only anticoagulant of this type. In France, many patients instead take Previscan® or Sintrom®, which belong to the same family of drugs. If this interaction has been measured specifically with warfarin, the greatest caution remains with other vitamin K antagonists (such as Previscan® or Sintrom®), the functioning of which is very similar.
Should you completely ban mango from your plate? Fortunately no, additional studies on humans are essential according to scientists. But moderation is essential. Experts recommend “limit the consumption of mangoes to less than one fruit per day” to avoid destabilizing his treatment. A study carried out in Malaysia clarifies and explains that it is above all excesses and sudden changes in diet which pose a problem, not occasional small portions. The golden rule when taking anticoagulants remains to maintain stable eating habits, to take your tablets at a fixed time, not to miss your blood tests and to consult a doctor immediately in the event of unexplained bruising or nosebleeds.
