This study aimed to examine the eŠects of banana juice on levodopa bioavailability in rats. When a levodopa preparation (EC-Doparl tablets) was orally administered with banana juice made by mixing with a fresh banana and water, there were signiˆcant decreases in C max (17.4±2.5 vs. 8.6±3.1 mg/ml; a＝0.05) and AUC (1882.8±49.2 vs. 933.5± 286.6 mg・min/ml; a＝0.05) for levodopa. On the other hand, administration of the levodopa preparation with a commercial beverage containing 10％ banana juice resulted in no signiˆcant change in C max or AUC. These results indicate that concomitant intake of levodopa preparations with banana juice, but not with a commercial banana beverage, may cause a drug-food interaction reducing levodopa bioavailability, and we should pay attention to such interactions during levodopa therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease.

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