Consumers should consult pharmacists or doctors before starting a new diet

New programs for casual dieters could result in nutritional deficiencies and adversely interact with medications, so consumers should consult their pharmacists or physicians before trying a new diet plan, according to the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

About 45 million Americans diet each year, according to the Boston Medical Center. If pharmacists or physicians are not consulted before attempting a new diet, consumers may not understand how their diets could affect their mood and energy level, or cause food-drug interactions, noted APhA in a press statement.

More than 149 million Americans age 20 and older and about one-third of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight and/or obese, according to a 2011 American Heart Association report. Obesity can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

Those who begin low-fat diets may need to take dietary supplements such as omega-3-fatty acids or flaxseed oil, according to APhA.

Diets can also affect how medications are metabolized. Consumers should be warned that grapefruits and grapefruit juice could cause adverse side effects for people who use certain medications to treat hypertension, high cholesterol, anxiety, or depression by making it harder for the medication to enter the digestive track. In addition, consumers should be advised that the effectiveness of anticoagulant drugs could be hindered by leafy greens that are high in vitamin K.

By discussing diet plans with pharmacists, dieters can learn about certain medications that could cause weight gain. Pharmacists can also suggest nutritional supplements to make up for any deficiencies that could result from the diet.