Physiological, Anatomical and Physicochemical Characteristics of Children Affecting Food-Drug Interaction-Review

The drug-food interaction has a great interest in nutrition research to minimize unfavorable reactions to nutritional treatment. Failure to supply appropriate nutrition to the child can harm both body development and growth. This review aimed to examine available data on the impact of diet on medication absorption in pediatric populations. Mechanisms underlying food-drug interactions were investigated to explore possible distinctions between adult and pediatric populations and to gain insight into how this may impact the pharmacokinetic profile in a child. Several changes in physiology, anatomy and physicochemical properties among children are likely to result in food-drug interactions that cannot be anticipated based on adult studies. The influence of food on medications results in decreased bioavailability and altered drug elimination. Drugs, on the other hand, can affect dietary intake, digestion, absorption and excretion. Literature shows that differences in gastrointestinal physiology and anatomy between pediatric and adult populations can have a major impact on drug absorption and bioavailability. A higher splanchnic blood flow may result in decreased drug bioavailability due to increased loss in first-pass metabolism. To overcome the overall lack of knowledge on analyzing food-drug interactions among pediatric populations, comprehensive procedures and recommendations must be developed.