Grapefruit an enzyme inhibitor...???

[Corinne]

A friend and fellow Waier Sylvia, drew my attention to studies that have been done about a potential link between grapefruit consumption and estrogen levels in the blood.

Since I drink grapefruit juice now (juice of 5 grapefruits per day = 750ml)
I was looking into it and it seems a bit confusing...

Grapefruit contains a bioflavonoid (naringin) which inhibits an enzyme (CYP 34A):

http://www.lef.org/abstracts/codex/naringin_index.htm

http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespha ... ruit02.pdf

Do we know if this harmful?

It is known that grapefruit consumption enhances the blood levels of certain drugs (see also above) and therefore people taking those drugs are at risk of overdoses if they consume grapefruit.

Another study has shown that post menopausal women who ate a 1/4 grapefruit daily could be more at risk for breast cancer due to the effect the flavonoid has on estrogen levels in the body.
See:
Dr. Susan Love
http://www.dslrf.org/breastcancer/conte ... 0&cid=1257

Cancer Journal for clinicians:
http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/con ... l/57/6/321

I've read through the info.
I don't see yet if drinking so much grapefruit juice daily is harmful or not.

I'm interested in your reactions to all this!
Thanks.

[Corinne]

http://www.cbcrp.org/RESEARCH/PageGrant ... nt_id=5288

A new research in progress.

it looks like what most people are concerned about are the dangers of grapefruit interfering with the drugs they are taking.

The real question is: when there are no drugs present, what effects do the flavonoids in grapefruit have on the metabolism of hormones.

It's an interesting question...

[RRM]

Grapefruit contains a bioflavonoid (naringin) which inhibits an enzyme (CYP 34A):

Yes, you can recognize it by the bitter taste.

Do we know if this harmful?

Each enzyme inhibitor is, to an extend.

people taking those drugs are at risk of overdoses if they consume grapefruit.

You dont take drugs, do you?

Another study has shown that post menopausal women who ate a 1/4 grapefruit daily could be more at risk for breast cancer due to the effect the flavonoid has on estrogen levels in the body....
I don't see yet if drinking so much grapefruit juice daily is harmful or not.

After reading this study, I think it is.
To me, grapefruit is only appealing if you put a lot of sugar on it.
The bitter taste should be a warning signal for us.

The real question is: when there are no drugs present, what effects do the flavonoids in grapefruit have on the metabolism of hormones.

Well, that question has been answered some time ago:
They (just as the ones in soy) do influence hormone levels.
And thats not good, of course.
So, (just like lemon and lime) grapefruit is rather a medicine (to treat low estrogen)
than a food.

[Corinne]

Thanks RRM!

If drinking grapefruit juice is affecting hormone levels, could you say what sort of symptoms I could be experiencing?

I just remember when I switched over from OJ to GFJ I did find it bitter (so added honey) and had some adjustment time. I thought it was due to the change of sugars. Now I love the GFJ!!!

ATM I'm actually 'using' it albeit in large quantities as a medicine for my foot/nail fungus.

But maybe I should reconsider...Need to think, feel what my body says...

[RRM]

Well, as with all medications / drugs,
you need to be very careful when using 'natural' drugs.
I dont like the idea of using it long term, particularly as it will always have side effects,
even if it takes care of possible low estrogen (but you dont know that).

If drinking grapefruit juice is affecting hormone levels, could you say what sort of symptoms I could be experiencing?

Some of the symptoms of elevated estrogen levels:
Weight gain, mood swings, cramps, depression, tiredness, sleeplessness,
thinning hair, irregular periods, breast pains and low sex drive.

[Iris]

So, (just like lemon and lime) grapefruit is rather a medicine (to treat low estrogen)
than a food.

You mean lemon/lime also interferes with the estrogen level?

[RRM]

No, i havent looked into that specifically, but they do contain similar anti nutrients
that interfere with some process.

[gianni]

A Chinese lady that I used to talk to says that yes, all citrus is estrogenic.

Betsy

[RRM]

A Chinese lady that I used to talk to says that yes, all citrus is estrogenic.

Did she distract that from scientific studies,
or from traditional Chinese medicine teachings?

[gianni]

A Chinese lady that I used to talk to says that yes, all citrus is estrogenic.

Did she distract that from scientific studies,
or from traditional Chinese medicine teachings?

I didn't ask her that, so I went to her website ( www.sensiblehealth.com )to see if I could find her source. She actually doesn't list the citrus with the estrogenic herbs and foods; it's in her list of "cold drinks and foods that chill the liver and kidneys". So maybe she came to that conclusion, because she did tell me she considered them all to be estrogenic, through, as you said, through traditional Chinese medicine teachings.

I tried googling citrus + estrogenic and it's easy to see that there's a lot of confusion out there about what is estrogenic and what isn't. Julia Chang, the lady at sensiblehealth says that estrogenic herbs are much more potent than estrogenic foods.

Also, she says that it's the liver's job to remove excess estrogens and balance hormones, so if your liver is not congested the somewhat estrogenic foods won't bother you as much, if at all.

Betsy