Statin drugs to lower cholesterol can cause a variety of side effects to patients. From muscle pain, nausea or weakness to muscle breakdown and kidney problems. And if that’s not enough then latest research has shown a clear connection between the consumption of grapefruit and the elevation of drug levels in the blood, even if the patient has taken the same dose. This dangerous process is often referred to as the “grapefruit effect”.

A conclusion from a gathering of scientists at the University of Michigan in 1993, shows that a family of enzymes also called the cytochrome P-450 system, or in particular an enzyme known as CYP 3A4, which is located in the small intestines and does an important job - to metabolize drugs and toxins to make them easily expelled from your system thus preventing lots of dangers associated with the accumulation of drugs and chemicals in your body.

It was found that small amount of grapefruit (250ml) seems to interfere with the natural function of the CYP 3A4 and decrease its ability by 62% to eliminate toxins and drugs from your bloodstream, thus causing drugs to accumulate in your blood stream, and producing an excessive doses of this drugs.

The effect of grapefruit can be normally seen with oral drugs, not those that are given by injection since the interference with the CYP 3A4 occurs only in the intestines where this enzyme works. Levels of oral drugs to lower cholesterol in the blood, such as Mevacor and Zocor, have significantly increased after the consumption of grapefruit juice.

There are quite a few side effects involved with the build up of drug levels in the blood. Some of them are extreme muscle breakdown also called rhabdomyolysis. The effect of the grapefruit juice on the levels of drugs in the blood is so overwhelmingly powerful that it can actually occur even 48 hours after the dangerous combination of grapefruit and oral drugs to lower cholesterol has been taken.

From clinical studies it seems the older people are more susceptible to the grapefruit effect than younger patients who take grapefruit with statin drugs such as Mevacor, Zocor and Lipitor to lower cholesterol.

The good news is that there is in fact a solution. By doing a complete lifestyle and dietary makeover, you too can naturally reduce your cholesterol levels without drugs and side effects, where you could freely enjoy grapefruit in your morning breakfast without any consequences.