NSTK · 01.2026Independent supplement reference
NutriStack
Edition 1.0Updated August 1, 2026

Supplement × Prescription·Evidence index

Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin: what the published research says

PubMed indexes 6 records that name Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin together, either in the title or in an interaction, co-administration, or pharmacokinetic context. Each one is listed below with its study design and, where the abstract states one, the authors’ own conclusion, quoted and linked. This page reports that literature. It does not tell you whether to combine them.

Read this first

An evidence index, not guidance.

Every statement below is attributed to a named, dated, linked source.

This page lists published research relevant to Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin. It deliberately does not state whether the combination is safe, whether it interacts, in which direction, at what dose, or how far apart to take them.

The research

6 studies naming Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin.

Strongest relevance first: papers naming both substances in the title, then human trials and systematic reviews.

Grapefruit juice has minimal effects on plasma concentrations of lovastatin-derived 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 1999 · PMID 10546919

Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial

“Daily consumption of a glass of regular-strength grapefruit juice has a minimal effect on plasma concentrations of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (approximately 30% to 40% increase) after a 40 mg evening dose of lovastatin.”

Rogers et al. · Authors' conclusion

Names both Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin in its title.

Grapefruit juice greatly increases serum concentrations of lovastatin and lovastatin acid.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 1998 · PMID 9585793

Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial

“Grapefruit juice can greatly increase serum concentrations of lovastatin and its active metabolite, lovastatin acid, probably by preventing CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the small intestine. The concomitant use of grapefruit juice with lovastatin and simvastatin should be avoided, or the dose of these 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors should be reduced accordingly.”

Kantola et al. · Authors' conclusion

Names both Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin in its title.

Pharmacological comparison of the statins.

Arzneimittel-Forschung · 2003 · PMID 14558433

Comparative StudyReviewHuman subjects

Names Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin together in an interaction, co-administration, or pharmacokinetic context.

Grapefruit juice increases serum concentrations of atorvastatin and has no effect on pravastatin.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 1999 · PMID 10460065

Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial

“Grapefruit juice significantly increased serum concentrations of atorvastatin acid, atorvastatin lactone, and active and total HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, probably by decreasing CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism of atorvastatin in the small intestine. On the other hand, grapefruit juice had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of pravastatin.”

Lilja et al. · Authors' conclusion

Names Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin together in an interaction, co-administration, or pharmacokinetic context.

Effect of multiple cilostazol doses on single dose lovastatin pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers.

Clinical pharmacokinetics · 1999 · PMID 10702889

Clinical Trial

“Lovastatin and metabolite exposure is increased only by up to 2-fold when cilostazol is coadministered, which is considerably less than that observed for potent CYP3A inhibitors such as itraconazole and grapefruit juice. Absorption of cilostazol decreased approximately 15% when it was given with lovastatin.”

Bramer et al. · Authors' conclusion

Names Grapefruit Juice and Lovastatin together in an interaction, co-administration, or pharmacokinetic context.

Limitations

What this evidence cannot tell you.

Search-based evidence indexes have real limits, and it is worth being explicit about them:

NutriStack

Track what you actually take.

NutriStack is a free iPhone app for organising a supplement routine: what you take, when, and what the published record says about it. Its exploratory interaction checker covers Grapefruit Juice, Lovastatin, and several hundred other substances.

The checker is a research and organisation tool, not a clinical decision aid, and its per-pair assessments are excluded from search until they pass claim-level review.

NutriStack is an informational and organizational tool, not a medical service, and not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.