Is Olive Oil Safe To Consume If You Take Losartan?

In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses consuming olive oil while taking losartan for blood pressure control.

Question

How much olive oil is safe to take while taking losartan potassium?

Asked by Ricky On Mar 09, 2023

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Mar 09, 2023
Last updated Apr 29, 2024

Key points

  • There is no defined 'safe limit' for consuming olive oil while taking losartan (generic for Cozaar), but adding it to one's diet in place of saturated fats has been linked to lower blood pressure and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • It's important to monitor blood pressure regularly and consult with a healthcare provider if adding olive oil to the diet so dosage adjustments to any medications can be made if necessary.

Quick Answer

While there is no set limit for olive oil consumption while taking losartan potassium, olive oil is considered to be part of a healthy, balanced diet and has been associated with lower blood pressure. An interaction between olive oil and antihypertensive medication (like losartan) has not been extensively studied but it certainly is possible that dosage adjustments may be needed over time if your blood pressure improves as a result of dietary and lifestyle modifications.

Detailed Answer

As previously mentioned, there is no defined 'safe limit' for consuming olive oil while taking blood pressure medication such as losartan.

Nevertheless, consuming monounsaturated fats like those found in olive oil has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and may reduce blood pressure as well.

For example, one study found that the intake of olive oil and vegetable oil was inversely associated with serum cholesterol and glucose levels, and systolic blood pressure.

Additionally, other studies have found that populations that consume olive oil as the main fat have been shown to have lower death rates from all causes, including coronary heart disease.

Some studies, although small, have even found that individuals may be able to reduce the dosage of their blood pressure medication (under a doctor's supervision) based on the blood pressure-lowering effects of a diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids.

Overall, while adding olive oil to the diet is generally considered safe, it's important to monitor blood pressure levels regularly, especially if taking medication like losartan.

Losartan With Olive Oil Commentary

There is no specific interaction between olive oil and losartan, and the only concern is really the potential of a combined antihypertensive effect (i.e., both losartan and olive oil working to lower blood pressure).

The theoretical concern here is blood pressure dropping too low, although this would be considered unlikely to happen in an abrupt manner (but rather over time as a result of an improved diet).

If you are taking losartan potassium and considering adding olive oil to your diet, it's important to stay in touch with your healthcare provider.

Regular blood pressure monitoring is crucial to ensure that the addition of olive oil does not result in a drop in blood pressure to the point where it becomes too low (i.e., hypotension).

Your healthcare provider may also need to adjust your dose of losartan, or other blood pressure medications, as necessary.

Final Words

Thanks so much for your question and please reach out again anytime!

References

  • The diet and 15-year death rate in the seven countries study, PubMed
  • Consumption of olive oil, butter, and vegetable oils and coronary heart disease risk factors. The Research Group ATS-RF2 of the Italian National Research Council, PubMed
  • Olive oil and reduced need for antihypertensive medications, PubMed

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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