UK doctors asked to check patients’ diets for drug interactions

Government safety advisers have met to discuss concerns over the interaction between powerful drugs and ingredients in food and supplements. Advice for doctors is to be drawn up by the Food Standards Agency and the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency as there may be up to 200 drugs whose action or toxicity is affected by food. There have already been two deaths linked to the interaction between cranberry juice and powerful medication. However, the advisers conclude that there is no need for public education as few people are affected, instead doctors and prescribers should be made aware of the issue.

http://www.guardian.co.uk, accessed 11 April 2005