I have done some general research on interactions with aromasin. Found very few, but here is one link that claims one major drug interaction and 107 more moderate interactions.

http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/exemestane,aromasin.html

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice seem to be a no-no with any AI or hormonal therapy.

There isn't really that much out there for aromasin interactions, which makes me believe perhaps there aren't as many restrictions as with other AIs. My signature line says arimidex, but I'm on aromasin now. I should change that info!

Claire

Abigail48, ????

Not sure I understand your question. I don't know of anything "most curative", if you're referring to breast cancer. It just means when you take certain drugs and eat grapefruit, the drug you take can lose some effectiveness for whatever disease you're taking it for.

Claire

I'm too lazy to google, but my understanding of grapefruit interaction is it competes for the same enzyme(s necessary to process the uptake of certain medicines.

This article might be helpful:

http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/breast-can...

excerpt:

Breast cancer diet during aromatase inhibitor treatment

Aromatase inhibitors are designed to inhibit the action of the enzyme aromatase, which converts androgens into estrogens by a process called aromatization. Aromatase inhibitors include Femara(letrozole), Arimidex (anastrozole), and Aromasin (exemestane). Aromatase inhibitors generally are used for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Since the growth of ER+ (i.e., estrogen sensitive) breast cancer is promoted by estrogen, decreasing the production of estrogen in the body is designed to suppress recurrence. (Whereas aromatase inhibitors block the production of estrogen, tamoxifen interferes with a tumor's ability to use estrogen.) There are some foods that also inhibit aromatase and other foods that increase aromatase or otherwise interfere with aromatase inhibitors. Please also see our article on the latest research concerning the impact of endocrine treatment on breast cancer prognosis.

Aromatase inhibitors normally are not used to treat breast cancer in premenopausal women unless accompanied by ovarian function suppression since inhibiting aromatase does not effect the production of estrogen by the ovaries (which is the most abundant source of estrogen in premenopausal women). To the extent that an aromatase inhibitor did decrease the production of estrogen in a premenopausal woman, the decrease would tend to stimulate the ovaries to increase androgen production, thereby neutralizing the effect of the aromatase inhibitor.

Weight gain after breast cancer diagnosis has been shown to increase hot flashes in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors. To varying degrees, women taking aromatase inhibitors also experience side effects such as an increase in joint disorders, an increase in the incidence of fractures, and high cholesterol (especially for those switching from tamoxifen). There are some foods that can reduce these side effects while at the same time reducing the risk of a breast cancer recurrence.

Foods that enhance the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors

The following foods (or major bioactive components) have been found to inhibit aromatase or to enhance the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors and are recommended during treatment:

Arugula Beans, dry Bell peppers Blackberries Blueberries & bilberries Boysenberries Broccoli & broccoli sprouts Brussels sprouts Butternut squash Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cherries, sour Cilantro Collard greens Cranberries & ligonberries Flaxseed & flaxseed oil, organic Ginger Grapes and grape juice, red

Horseradish & wasabi Hot peppers Kale Mushrooms, white button & related Mustard Mustard greens Olive oil, extra-virgin Olives Parsley Pomegranates & pomegranate juice Pumpkins Raspberries Rice, black, red or purple Tomatoes Turnip greens Turnips Walnuts & walnut oil Watercress Zucchini

Foods, supplements and medications to avoid while taking aromatase inhibitors

The following have been found to increase aromatase or reduce the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors and should be limited or avoided during treatment:

Alcohol

Corn oil

Daidzein

Genistein

Hesperetin or hesperidin supplements

Hormone replacement therapy, including bioidentical or natural hormones

I3C or DIM supplements

Peanut oil

Safflower oil

Soybean oil

Soybean paste

Soy protein isolate

Soybeans

Sunflower oil

Tofu

Foods that safely reduce the side effects of aromatase inhibitors

The following foods (or major components) have been shown to help reduce the side effects of aromatase inhibitors:

Arctic char - bone loss Black tea - bone loss Blackberries - bone loss Carrots - bone loss Cherries, sour - joint pain Dry beans - bone loss Green tea - bone loss Herring - bone loss Kale - bone loss Lake trout - bone loss

Mackerel - bone loss Olive oil - arthritis Oranges - bone loss Plums - bone loss Pomegranate - arthritis, bone loss Prunes - bone loss Raspberries - arthritis Salmon, wild - bone loss Sardines - bone loss Walnuts - bone loss

While vitamin D might reduce joint pain and risk of fracture, one 2011 study reported that women taking vitamin D supplements during aromatase inhibitor treatment had higher circulating estrogen levels. The study results have not been replicated to date. However, it suggests that women should have their vitamin D levels tested and work with their oncologists to increase their levels, if needed, rather than taking high doses without supervision.

Aspirin appears to be safe to take during aromatase inhibitor treatment. Women should not use copper bracelets or copper compression garments to relieve arthritis pain. Copper has been shown to contribute to angiogenesis and metastasis of breast cancer.

Foods and beverages that might worsen the side effects of aromatase inhibitors

The following should be limited during aromatase inhibitor treatment:

Chocolate - bone loss

Coffee - bone loss

Additional comments

We suggest that estrogen sensitive breast cancer patients and survivors to eat a wide variety of the foods from our recommended list and limit or avoid those on our avoid list, in addition to paying particular attention to the foods, spices and supplements on the lists above. Note that weight gainduring aromatase inhibitor treatment has been found to be associated with less favorable prognosis. Please see our article on how to optimize your breast cancer diet for information on what to eat during all stages of treatment and recovery.

Below are links to recent studies on aromatase inhibitor treatment. For a more complete list of studies, please see the aromatase inhibitors tag.

Great list. I found this topic while trying to find out of curcurmin can be taken with exemestane (aromasin) I believe it was not recommended while on tamoxifen, but can't seem to find an answer regarding A.I's. Anyone know?

What's curious though is that flax is on the above list as recommended for enhancing effectiveness of A.I's. Very recently in Canada, I saw that oncologists have flax on the list of "DO NOT HAVE" with A.I's. Hmmmm....

Somewhere on a recent thread I think I remember a discussion that tumeric/curcumin and aromasine/exemestane, when taken together, reduce the effectiveness of aromasin/exemestane. I remember being disappointed and scared because I had been taking tumeric for three days a week, although not a huge amount, for months now, and I've taken aromasin since last Sept.

But I searched in vain for the thread. And when I searched Dr. Google, I could find no easy to understand science research one way or the other. I've stopped taking it for now; I take a daily aspirin, which also, like curcumin, seems to have both inflammatory reduction properties and anti-tumor , probably related, properties.

I have read articles that caution against curcuminbut I have read some that say it enhances the AIs. It appears to be a crapshoot.

I recall seeing something about turmeric and tamoxifen competing for the same liver enzyme required to metabolize tamoxifen into its effective form. (My very unscientific understanding is that tamoxifen doesn't "activate" until the liver processes it into its bio-available form ... But don't quote me, as I may be way off the mark.)

I guess the question is, do AIs involve the same liver enzymes and/or metabolizing process as tamoxifen? If not, then I would perhaps assume that the drug interactions may be different. That said, avoiding estrogenic foods and herbs sounds like a good practice regardless of the hormone therapy drug.

Gemini4 - AIs do not require enzymatic processing to become active like tamoxifen does. They are already in the active form.

Edited: as Timothy pointed out below, not all AIs are already in their active form. Exemestane needs to be metabolized to its active form.

Impact of Metabolizing Enzymes on Drug Response of Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer

Kbeee, Ah! Stupid autocorrect!

Timothy - you are right, I was thinking of Letrozole, which is already in its active form. Exemestane, however, is metabolized to its active form. I'll go back and edit my post above.