Eat smart, stay alive: Dr. Olukoya introduces App to combat food-drug interaction risks

Abdullateef Fowewe

In Nigeria, where patients are prescribed an average of more than three medications at a time, a growing but often overlooked health concern is emerging from everyday dietary habits. Healthcare innovator and licensed pharmacist, Dr. Remi Olukoya, has raised concerns that common foods consumed in Nigerian households could interfere with medications and potentially lead to harmful outcomes.

Speaking at a recent health session, the founder of PharmaPlan Systems revealed that about half of patients are unable to identify even one food-drug interaction related to their prescriptions. She stressed that this lack of awareness poses risks to treatment effectiveness and patient safety.

Olukoya highlighted the critical but often ignored relationship between diet and how medications work, particularly within African and diaspora communities where traditional diets are widely consumed. While encouraging patients to follow prescribed treatments, she emphasized that food choices can significantly influence how drugs are absorbed, processed, and utilized in the body.

She noted that cultural diets and local foods should be considered in both prescribing and taking medications, as certain foods may alter drug performance. Citing examples, she explained that grapefruit can interfere with some cholesterol-lowering medications, while bitter leaf—a staple in many African homes—may impact blood sugar levels and interact with diabetes treatments.

Drawing insights from her book, Pharma Plan Systems, which simplifies food-drug interaction concepts for the general public, Olukoya underscored the importance of making informed dietary decisions while on medication.

To help address the issue, she introduced the Medi Meal Safe app, a digital solution designed to guide users in making safer food choices when taking medications. The app provides tailored meal recommendations for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, while also flagging foods that may pose risks when combined with certain prescriptions.
“The goal is to reduce adverse reactions and improve treatment outcomes by empowering people with the right information about what they eat,” she said.

Participants at the session also raised concerns about food sensitivities and the complexities of traditional diets, especially the mixed effects of foods like bitter leaf on nutrition and blood sugar. In response, Olukoya advised individuals to carefully evaluate their health conditions and medications before incorporating such foods regularly into their diets.

She concluded by emphasizing that a better understanding of the link between nutrition and medication is essential for safer healthcare outcomes, urging both patients and healthcare professionals to pay closer attention to dietary habits alongside prescribed treatments.