Tangelos are generally safer than grapefruit for individuals on certain prescriptions because they usually lack which compound causing medication interaction?

Furocoumarins

A critical safety consideration arises when consuming citrus fruits alongside certain prescription medications, particularly drugs like statins. Grapefruit is widely known to contain furocoumarins, compounds that interfere with the metabolism of specific drugs by inhibiting the CYP3A4 enzyme located in the small intestine. This inhibition can lead to dangerously elevated concentrations of the medication remaining in the bloodstream. Because tangelos are hybrids involving grapefruit or pomelo, concerns often arise; however, the text clarifies that tangelos typically do not carry the furocoumarin levels high enough to trigger this adverse medication interaction, positioning them as a safer alternative for patients on these specific prescriptions.