Banana juice reduces bioavailability of levodopa preparation

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effects of banana juice on levodopa bioavailability in rats. When a levodopa preparation (EC-Doparl tablets) was orally administered with banana juice made by mixing with a fresh banana and water, there were significant decreases in Cmax (17.4±2.5 vs. 8.6±3.1 μg/ml; α=0.05) and AUC (1882.8±49.2 vs. 933.5± 286.6 μg·min/ml; α=0.05) for levodopa. On the other hand, administration of the levodopa preparation with a commercial beverage containing 10% banana juice resulted in no significant change in C max or AUC. These results indicate that concomitant intake of levodopa preparations with banana juice, but not with a commercial banana beverage, may cause a drug-food interaction reducing levodopa bioavailability, and we should pay attention to such interactions during levodopa therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease. © 2005 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.