Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge and Behaviors Regarding Drug–Dietary Supplement and Drug–Herbal Product Interactions

Given the widespread use of dietary supplements (DS) and herbal products (HP), healthcare professionals (HCPs) will increasingly encounter patients who use these preparations with conventional drugs and who need their services to reduce the consequences of adverse therapeutic outcomes. The aim of our survey was to assess the knowledge and behaviors of HCPs regarding the risk of potential drug–dietary supplement (DDSIs) and drug–herbal product (DHPIs) interactions. This cross-sectional survey collected data via on paper-based questionnaire among general practitioners (GPs) (n = 105), specialty doctors (n = 87) and nurses (n = 154). The HCPs were mostly familiar with the interaction of doxycycline with magnesium (83%) and were least familiar with interaction of warfarin with glucosamine (14%). The results on DDSIs and DHPIs knowledge showed that GPs scored significantly higher than nurses (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively), while specialty doctors scored significantly higher than nurses only on DDSIs knowledge (p < 0.001). Only 28% of respondents reported that they often or always ask patients on drug therapy about the use of DS or HP, and 25% of respondents record such data in the medical documentation of patients. Our results showed that HCPs have sufficient knowledge about most major DDSIs and DHPIs, but insufficient knowledge about most moderate interactions. However, their overall knowledge and behavior regarding the risk of these interactions indicate the need for further continuing education and trainin

Effects of different doses of zinc gluconate on antioxidative activity of metformin and glibenclamide on experimentally induced diabetes in rabbits

It is well known that there is a relationship between the zinc and diabetes, and its antioxidant potential. Based on that, the aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of different doses of zinc (9,2 and 18,4 mg / day) in combination with metformin and glibenclamide, to the total antioxidant status (TAS) and the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in experimentally-induced diabetic rabbits. The study was conducted on 24 New Zealand rabbits of both sexes, body weight 2,5 to 3,2 kg. In rabbits, experimental diabetes was induced i.v. injection of alloxan (80 mg / kg body weight). Three weeks after causing diabetes, the animals were divided into two groups: first group was treated oral with metformin, an appropriate dose (120 mg / kg body weight), while the second group of rabbits was treated with a suitable dose of glibenclamide (0,6 mg / kg BW). After the washout period (10 t1/2), the rabbits were treated with metformin and a first dose of zinc (9,2 mg) combination, i.e. glibenclamide and zinc (9,2 mg). After another washout period (10 t1/2) the rabbits were treated with metformin and a second dose of zinc (18,4 mg) combination, i.e. of glibenclamide and zinc (18,4 mg). Blood samples were taken in a specified time interval. The TAS value was significantly increased after administration of metformin, single and in combination with zinc, in doses of 9,2 and 18,4 mg, with respect to the value recorded before their application (p <0.05). Also, it is noted a significantly increased SOD activity after administration of metformin (i.e., glibenclamide), and zinc in combination, in a dose of 18,4 mg (p <0.05). This indicates that zinc and metformin have a significant positive effects on the parameters of antioxidative status, but with glibenclamide this effect did not occur