Pink Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins (bergamottin, 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin) that potently inhibit intestinal CYP3A4, causing dangerous interactions with many medications including statins, calcium-channel blockers, immunosuppressants, and some psychiatric drugs. The FDA requires drug labeling to warn about grapefruit interactions, and patients on affected drugs are advised to avoid grapefruit juice.
What it is
Juice expressed from pink-fleshed cultivars of Citrus paradisi; pink hue from lycopene/beta-carotene.
Juice / beverage ingredient.
Why it's flagged
- Furanocoumarins potently inhibit CYP3A4, causing dangerous interactions with statins, calcium-channel blockers, immunosuppressants, and some psychiatric drugs
- Acidic, contributing to dental erosion
What regulators actually say
"Grapefruit juice can affect how some drugs work, leading to potentially dangerous side effects."
"Grapefruit juice is the food prepared from the unfermented juice... obtained from mature grapefruit."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Permitted; standard of identity 21 CFR 146.132; drug-interaction warnings on many prescription drug labels.
European Union — EFSA
Permitted.
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