What fruits are limited to eat to post liver transplant patient?

Posted by echo2022 @echo2022, Dec 10, 2022

I want to eat some lemons to improve my immune system, but I worry post liver transplants patients are not able to eat many sour fruits, such as lemons, mandarins, tangerines and pomegranates. Is it true?

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My understanding is that grapefruit, grapefruit juice, pomegranate and pomegranate juice should be avoided. I think lemons and other citrus is fine including tangerines and clementines.
Eating fruits that have edible skins I am wary of...fruit such as berries, apples etc as I am concerned that might be tainted, dirty or bruised in their natural state. No raw vegetables for the same reason. Good luck!

REPLY

Hi @echo2022 You’re right in being concerned about the fruits to avoid with a liver transplant. But has more to do with possible medication interference than with hurting your liver. The list that @efrazz provided in their answer was spot on with the fruits to avoid. I had the same list from my transplant team. I could eat tangerines and clementines, limited to one per day. Lemon squeezed in water was fine.

When I was on Tacrolimus I couldn’t eat pomegranates or juice, grapefruit juice or fruits because they would interfere with that drug. People on Warfarin should avoid cranberry juice. So it’s best to ask your liver transplant team pharmacist what to avoid with the meds you’re on.

Here’s a little info from Medsafe about fruit interaction with meds.
https://medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/PUArticles/March2015FruitInteractions.htm

I see you had your liver transplant in 2008. That’s great! Have you been avoiding some of these favorite fruits since then?

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Re fruit impacting tacrilymus Grapefruit or any version (fruit, juice, soda...) and pomegranate of any version interfere with tacrolimus. Also Seville orange aka sour orange which is the basis of orange marmalade and orange glazes used in orange duck, chicken and other meats znd fish.
Mayo allows a few clementines per day (up to 6 max).
Nutritionists and doctors have never mentioned to me any other citrus as problematic.
Other meds are best researched as to foods that have negative interactions. Barbara

REPLY
@efrazz

My understanding is that grapefruit, grapefruit juice, pomegranate and pomegranate juice should be avoided. I think lemons and other citrus is fine including tangerines and clementines.
Eating fruits that have edible skins I am wary of...fruit such as berries, apples etc as I am concerned that might be tainted, dirty or bruised in their natural state. No raw vegetables for the same reason. Good luck!

Jump to this post

I know grapefruit and grapefruit juice should be avoided, but I didn't know pomegranates are the same before. I was lucky that I barely ate pomegranates before. Yes, I'm also careful to eat raw fish.

REPLY
@ajdo129

Re fruit impacting tacrilymus Grapefruit or any version (fruit, juice, soda...) and pomegranate of any version interfere with tacrolimus. Also Seville orange aka sour orange which is the basis of orange marmalade and orange glazes used in orange duck, chicken and other meats znd fish.
Mayo allows a few clementines per day (up to 6 max).
Nutritionists and doctors have never mentioned to me any other citrus as problematic.
Other meds are best researched as to foods that have negative interactions. Barbara

Jump to this post

I like to eat mandarins, but my doctor in China said don't eat too many acid fruits. I haven't consulted this question here. Thanks for your reply. Lemond juice every day is also okay, right?

REPLY
@loribmt

Hi @echo2022 You’re right in being concerned about the fruits to avoid with a liver transplant. But has more to do with possible medication interference than with hurting your liver. The list that @efrazz provided in their answer was spot on with the fruits to avoid. I had the same list from my transplant team. I could eat tangerines and clementines, limited to one per day. Lemon squeezed in water was fine.

When I was on Tacrolimus I couldn’t eat pomegranates or juice, grapefruit juice or fruits because they would interfere with that drug. People on Warfarin should avoid cranberry juice. So it’s best to ask your liver transplant team pharmacist what to avoid with the meds you’re on.

Here’s a little info from Medsafe about fruit interaction with meds.
https://medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/PUArticles/March2015FruitInteractions.htm

I see you had your liver transplant in 2008. That’s great! Have you been avoiding some of these favorite fruits since then?

Jump to this post

Thanks for your detailed information. Yes, I don't eat grapefruits and just eat a few mandarins and tangerines although I like them. Because of the virus, I heard lemons are good to improve immune system, so I want to eat them every day.

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