Statins warning as millions of Brits told to avoid 'toxic' drink

Statins warning as millions of Brits told to avoid 'toxic' drinkAround eight million Brits take statins for cholesterol, but experts warn this juice can make the medication more powerful and even "toxic"CommentsNewsFiona Callingham Lifestyle writer02:09, 15 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesYou should not consume this drink if you take statins(Image: Getty)Brits who take a commonly prescribed medication could be putting their health at risk by consuming a certain drink. Combining statins with this juice could make them more powerful and even “toxic”.‌Approximately eight million people in the UK are estimated to be prescribed statins. These medicines help reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (or "bad" cholesterol) in the bloodstream.‌Excessive cholesterol in the blood increases your risk of several potentially life-threatening conditions, including heart attacks and strokes. While statins could therefore prove life-saving, using them carries their own hazards.‌The NHS cautions that people on statins should steer clear of grapefruit juice. "Grapefruit juice can affect some statins and increase your risk of side effects," the health body says.View 3 ImagesIt is estimated that around eight million people in the UK are prescribed statins(Image: Getty)"A doctor may advise you to avoid it completely or only consume small quantities." This guidance is supported by specialists at Harvard Health Publishing.‌They elaborated on the mechanism behind this risk. "Certain classes of drugs - most notably statins - are metabolised (broken down) in your intestines by an enzyme called CYP3A, which normally reduces the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream," they said."Grapefruit juice contains compounds called furanocoumarins that stop CYP3A from doing its job. As a result, more of the drug is absorbed, making it more powerful than it's meant to be - even toxic in some cases." But they added that not al...