Background

Kiwi is a plant that produces fruit. The fruit is used as a food and as a medicine.

Kiwi is used for asthma, constipation, high blood pressure, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, kiwi is used as a meat tenderizer and an ingredient in some sports drinks. It is often eaten as a fruit.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Kiwi is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken in the amounts found in food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if kiwi is safe when taken in amounts found in medicine. Kiwi can cause allergic reactions such as trouble swallowing (dysphagia), vomiting, and hives in people who are allergic to the fruit.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Kiwi is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant and breast-feeding women when taken in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if kiwi is safe to take in amounts found in medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid taking kiwi as a medicine.

Bleeding disorders: Kiwi might slow blood clotting. In theory, kiwi might make bleeding disorders worse.

Allergies: Kiwi may cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to other fruits, plants, or spices such as avocado, birch pollen, fig, hazelnut, latex, poppy seed, rye, sesame seed, or wheat. Avoid eating kiwi fruit or taking kiwi products if you are allergic to any of these products.

Surgery. Kiwi might slow blood clotting in some people. In theory, kiwi might increase the risk for bleeding during surgical procedures. Stop eating kiwi or using kiwi products at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of kiwi depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for kiwi. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Eating kiwi might decrease blood pressure in some people. Taking medications used for lowering high blood pressure along with kiwi might cause your blood pressure to go too low. Do not eat too much kiwi if you are taking medications for high blood pressure.

Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Kiwi might slow blood clotting. Taking kiwi along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Eating kiwi might lower blood pressure. Using it along with other herbs and supplements that have this same effect might increase the risk of blood pressure dropping too low in some people. Some of these herbs and supplements include andrographis, casein peptides, cat's claw, coenzyme Q-10, fish oil, L-arginine, lycium, stinging nettle, theanine, and others.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Kiwi might slow blood clotting. Using kiwi along with other herbs and supplement that can slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Some of these herbs and supplements include angelica, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, red clover, turmeric, willow, Panax ginseng, and others.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

There is information that suggests the antioxidant effects of vitamin C or other compounds that are found in high concentrations in kiwi might benefit people with asthma.