Can you take metformin with orange juice? (+3 foods)

In this article, we will discuss whether metformin can be taken with orange juice. We will also discuss the risks of taking orange juice with metformin, and foods that should be avoided while taking metformin.

Can you take metformin with orange juice?

It is not advised to take metformin with orange juice because orange juice has high sugar content especially if you are consuming store-bought orange juice. Metformin is a hypoglycemic agent while orange juice can rapidly increase blood sugar levels.

Thus, taking metformin with orange juice interferes with the intended effects of metformin which is to maintain the glucose levels of the blood. Although metformin is suggested to be consumed with meals, orange juice is not a great choice.

Metformin results in gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and thus it is advised to take metformin with a meal (1). However, orange juice consists of natural or processed sugars which are not beneficial for health.

You are likely to take metformin if you have type 2 diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Foods with a high sugar content are not beneficial in these conditions and should be avoided.

Why should you avoid taking metformin with orange juice?

You should avoid taking orange juice because of its sugar content. Although orange juice does not interact with metformin, its effects on blood sugar levels may interfere with the intended hypoglycemic effects of metformin.

Here is why you should avoid taking metformin with orange juice:

Blood sugar spikes:

Fruit juices lack the beneficial components of whole fruit like fiber and other components like vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals may be destroyed during the processing (2).

The high glycemic load of fruit juices is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Additionally, liquid calories result in quicker and more significant fluctuations in blood sugar and insulin levels than whole fruit (2).

Thus, if you are taking metformin for diabetes or PCOS, the blood sugar spikes caused by orange juice are not beneficial for your health.

Hormonal changes:

As consuming orange juice causes a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, as a response, more insulin is released. Elevated levels of insulin stimulate the release of androgens, male hormones that are increased in PCOS (3).

Increased androgens lead to impaired follicle development and anovulation (3). Thus, if you are taking metformin for PCOS, orange juice consumption is not favorable for this health condition (3).

What other foods should be avoided while taking metformin?

Metformin may interact with some foods and some foods might not be suitable for the health condition you are taking metformin for like diabetes and PCOS. The following foods should be avoided while taking metformin:

Some beverages: 

All fruit juices should be consumed cautiously and moderately while taking metformin due to the high sugar content. Instead, you should consider taking whole fruit.

Some beverages may have other interactions with metformin like:

Simple and refined carbohydrates: 

Simple and refined carbohydrates like sugar snacks, food juices, soda, white bread, and white rice, have a high sugar content and can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

These foods do not interact with metformin but should be consumed in moderation because they are not favorable for managing diabetes, PCOS, and weight management which are the intended reasons for taking metformin.

Fats: 

Saturated and trans fats as found in fast foods are not suitable to be consumed while taking metformin. Maintaining cardiovascular health is crucial if you have diabetes and these fats are not beneficial for heart and overall health.

How to take metformin safely with foods?

Metformin is advised to be taken with meals and your meals should be healthy to enhance the therapeutic effects of metformin. If you wish to consume fruits, you can eat whole fruit instead of juice and fruits should also be taken moderately.

Metformin is taken for diabetes and PCOS and maintaining sugar levels, weight, and cardiovascular health is crucial for these conditions. Thus, your diet should also support this purpose along with metformin.

A diet low in carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium and richer in plant sources, legumes, and sources of healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and seeds is recommended to manage health while taking metformin.

You can take metformin with any of the foods that are supportive of your health and weight management. Immediate-release metformin tablets can be cut for ease of swallowing. Take metformin same time every day for consistent response (1).

In my experience:

As per my understanding, it is not a great choice to take metformin with orange juice. Orange juice has high sugar content which leads to a rapid increase in blood sugar levels which interferes with the hypoglycemic action of metformin.

The sugar spikes also lead to elevated insulin which causes hormonal imbalance and negatively influences the health of PCOS patients. Fruit juices do not support weight management and blood sugar control which are important in diabetes.

A diet low in carbohydrates and trans fats and high in vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats is recommended to be consumed with metformin to support its therapeutic effects.

References