Countless chemicals are absorbed from our diet daily, and many of these compounds are as potent as drugs to inhibit and induce CYP enzymes.
For example, grapefruit and other fruit juices have already been mentioned as potent inhibitors of CYP3A4. Many food additives expose the consumer to compounds that induce CYP enzymes. For example, the process of barbecuing meats produces hydrocarbons that induce CYP1A2.
Cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, induce CYP1A2. Eating vegetables also increases the pH of urine. This is beneficial in maintaining several conjugated metabolites of aromatic amines.
CYP1A2 metabolizes caffeine. It is an inhibitor of substrates cleared by CYP1A2.
A change to a person’s diet can significantly alter the clearance of drugs and lead to loss of efficacy or possible toxicity.
