Originally published in Nutrition Focus Vol. 33 #2, March/April 2018 (an academic magazine for children with special health care needs).
Medication-nutrient interactions occur any time a medication interferes with a food or nutrient, or vice versa, a food or nutrient interferes with the action of a medication. Many children with special health care needs receive one or more medications on a regular basis. Healthcare professionals who work with these children and their families should be aware of each medication and potential adverse interactions with foods/nutrients. Those who are at highest risk for drug-nutrient interactions require long term or multiple medications. The risk is compounded for children whose primary condition causes marginal nutritional status to begin with, due to poor appetite, increased energy needs, poor absorption, impaired metabolism of nutrients or dysphagia (e.g., in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, renal failure, pulmonary or cardiac diseases, or neurodevelopmental disorders).
A reprint of the complete article is available for download. Each segment of the article will be posted separately over the next couple days.
