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Important Drug-Nutrient Interactions in the Elderly

  • Review Article
  • Clinical Pharmacology
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Abstract

Several drug-nutrient interactions can occur, but their prevalence may be accentuated in the elderly. Geriatric patients may experience age-related changes in the pharmacokinetics of a drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. When drug-nutrient interactions occur, they usually affect absorptive processes more frequently. Specific transporter systems facilitate the absorption of many drugs. Little is known about how these transporter systems are affected by aging. Co-existing disease states in the elderly may exaggerate the action of a drug and represent a confounding factor in drug-nutrient interactions. While several different drug-nutrient interactions are important in the elderly, those affecting the cardiovascular system warrant special attention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas, 78284-7722, USA

    John A. Thomas

  2. Nutrition Services, Mead Johnson Research Center, Evansville, Indiana, USA

    Robert A. Burns

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  1. John A. Thomas
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  2. Robert A. Burns
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Correspondence to John A. Thomas.

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Thomas, J.A., Burns, R.A. Important Drug-Nutrient Interactions in the Elderly. Drugs Aging 13, 199–209 (1998). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199813030-00003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199813030-00003

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