Agar Interactions Overview

Check For Interactions With Agar

Agar

Also known as
  • Agar-Agar
  • Agarose
  • Agarose Gel
  • Agaropectin
  • Agarweed
  • Algue de Java
  • Chinese Gelatin
  • Colle du Japon
  • Gelosa
  • Gélose
  • Japanese Isinglas
  • Kanten Diet
  • Kanten Jelly
  • Kanten Plan
  • Layor Carang
  • Mousse de Ceylan
  • Mousse de Jaffna
  • Qion Zhi
  • Seaweed Gelatin
  • Vegetable Gelatin
Agar Agar is a type of polysaccharide that is extracted from red algae. It is used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, and other products. In cooking, agar is commonly used to make jellies, puddings, and other desserts. It is also used in scientific laboratories as a solid growth medium for microorganisms (i.e., an agar petri dish). Agar is a vegetarian alternative to gelatin, and is a food rich in certain minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber.
There are 1987 drugs known to interact with Agar

Additional Details

Is Agar Safe? Are There Any Warnings?

  • Agar is considered likely safe when used orally in food amounts and has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status as a food additive in the US.
  • When used orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts, it is possibly safe for short-term use.
  • Safety data during pregnancy and lactation is limited, so it is advised to avoid using it during these periods.

How Is Agar Thought To Work? What Is the Mechanism of Action?

  • Agar is a natural hydrocolloid extracted from red seaweed.
  • It has been used for centuries in Japanese cuisine and is also employed in scientific research for microbiological cultures.
  • Agar's properties as a dietary fiber enable it to have various effects in the body, including potential benefits for diabetes, obesity, and constipation.
  • It is believed to inhibit postprandial increases in blood glucose, exhibit antioxidant activity, reduce bilirubin levels in neonatal jaundice, and contribute to weight loss through appetite suppression and delayed gastric emptying.
  • However, more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and its potential impact on nutrient and medication absorption.

Pharmacokinetics

  • There is insufficient reliable information available about the pharmacokinetics of agar.

Interaction Overview

  • Agar may interact with oral drugs and reduce the absorption of certain nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, and trace minerals when consumed in larger amounts.

Common Side Effects To Watch For

  • Orally, agar is generally well tolerated, and no significant adverse effects have been reported.
  • However, in rare cases, ingestion of high-fiber foods like agar may lead to phytobezoars (fibrous masses) and possible esophageal or bowel obstruction.

What Is Agar Typically Used For?

  • Managing diabetes and obesity
  • Addressing constipation
  • Assisting in the treatment of neonatal jaundice in infants
  • Making dental impressions in dentistry
  • Formulating emulsions, suspensions, gels, and hydrophilic suppositories in manufacturing processes

Drugs that interact with Agar

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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

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