Assement of the risks of the use of food supplements and ther drug interactions in the elderly population

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risks of using dietary supplements and their drug interactions in the elderly population. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive-discursive review, carried out on the VHL, Ministry of Health and Scielo portals. Inclusion criteria were articles with a 10-year version that discussed drug interactions among the elderly. Exclusion criteria Researches that discuss these topics in non-senile population. OUTCOME: As the dietary supplement market expands globally, recognition of drug and supplement interactions is vital to preventing morbidity and mortality. However, the risks of combinations are little known by consumers and there is an increase in reports of hepatotoxicity; hypotension; hypoglycemia and platelet antiaggregation, in addition to reduced pharmacological efficacy or bioavailability. CONCLUSION: Food supplementation when administered with drugs incorrectly causes interaction, leading to ineffectiveness in the treatment by reducing absorption or potentiating the action. Furthermore, the SFD is underreported and little elucidated, which compromises assessing the nature of these interactions.