[Interactions of food and drug metabolism]

The nutritional state, and/or the ingestion of specific nutrients, is/are able to modify drug disposition, by interfering with drug absorption, distribution, storage, and metabolism. Recent data report that nutrients interfere with drug metabolism either by modifying key enzymes of phase I (cytochromeP450 dependent mixed function oxidase) and II (glucuronosyl, sulfonyl- ... transferases), or by modulating coenzymes availability (NADPH, UDPglucuronic acid...). Food components involved in drug metabolism modifications are either macro-nutrients (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, ethanol), micronutriments (vitamins, minerals), or phytochemicals. Drug-nutrients interactions may be beneficials, and thus could constitute, i.e. a way to improve drug therapeutic index, or generate adverse effects.