Food supplements and medicines: what the texts say
Plants for which the French Order of 24 June 2014 requires a warning related to a treatment, and opinions of health agencies that report a possible interaction between a supplement and medicines.
A plant or ingredient missing from this page has not been judged free of interactions. If you take a treatment, show the supplement to your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.
Mandatory warning on the label 3
Restriction quoted as published in the Order (in French); pages are in French.
- Brassica oleracea L.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement recommandant aux personnes ayant une hypothyroïdie ou un traitement de la thyroïde de consulter leur médecin.
- Citrus aurantium L.
La quantité ingérée de p-synéphrine doit être inférieure à 20 mg par dose journalière recommandée. L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants, aux femmes enceintes ou allaitantes et en cas de traitement anti-hypertenseur. La caféine et les sources de caféine ne sont pas autorisées dans les compléments alimentaires contenant Citrus aurantium L.
- Ginkgo biloba L.
L'étiquetage des compléments alimentaires qui contiennent la feuille de la plante Ginkgo biloba L. doit comporter un avertissement avec la teneur suivante: "Consultez votre médecin en cas de prise simultanée d'anticoagulants."
Arrêté du 24 juin 2014, annexe I. French orders of 9 May 2006 (nutrients), 24 June 2014 (plants) and 26 September 2016 (other substances), consolidated LEGI collection, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Opinions of health agencies 9
- Allium sativum L.
For the garlic bulb preparations studied, ANSES states that consumption with certain antiretroviral medicines, including saquinavir and ritonavir, is contraindicated. It also recommends not taking them with an anticoagulant or an antiplatelet drug.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Arginine
ANSES states that arginine supplements are contraindicated in people who have previously had a myocardial infarction. It also notes that their effects on lowering blood pressure and dilating blood vessels can add to those of certain medicines.
ANSES, 7 November 2016, 2014-SA-0008
- Curcuma longa L.
ANSES recorded more than 100 adverse-effect reports linked to turmeric food supplements, and analysed 15 cases of liver damage, 13 of them hepatitis. These supplements raise no particular concern as long as they provide less than 153 mg of curcumin a day for a 60 kg adult, in standard form; this benchmark does not apply to formulas that increase absorption (with piperine, for example). ANSES advises against them for people with a bile duct disease, and without medical advice for people taking anticoagulants, anticancer drugs or immunosuppressants. Turmeric used in cooking is not concerned.
ANSES, 12 May 2022, 2019-SA-0111
- Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench
For the purple coneflower aerial part preparations studied, ANSES recommends not consuming them in cases of immune system disease or treatment that acts on the immune system. It also advises against their use in people with an atopic allergic predisposition, because of the risk of an anaphylactic reaction.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.
For the meadowsweet flowering aerial part preparations studied, ANSES recommends not taking them in cases of hypersensitivity to salicylates, including aspirin. It also advises avoiding their combined use with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Ginkgo biloba L.
ANSES formally advises against supplements made from ginkgo leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of experimental data on reproductive toxicity. It recommends consulting a doctor when taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, whose effects may be increased.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Mélatonine
ANSES advises against melatonin food supplements for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, people with an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and before an activity that requires sustained alertness. It asks for medical advice for people with epilepsy, asthma, or mood, behaviour or personality disorders, and for people taking medication. Its experts recommend occasional use and no more than 2 mg a day. The opinion is based on 90 adverse-effect reports received from 2009 to May 2017.
ANSES, 23 February 2018, 2016-SA-0209
- Sulfate de chondroïtine
ANSES advises against chondroitin sulfate supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding and in children, because of insufficient safety data. It recommends never combining sources of glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, whether medicines or supplements.
ANSES, 4 January 2019, 2015-SA-0069
- Ubiquinone
The BfR recommends that people taking blood pressure lowering drugs or coumarin-type anticoagulants seek medical advice before taking more than 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 per day, as possible interactions have not been sufficiently studied.
BfR, 10 November 2023, questions-réponses du 10/11/2023