Are there any foods I should avoid while taking an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)?

Manufacturers indicate that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may be administered with or without food, and there are no food contraindications or interactions noted.^1-9

Valsartan is the only ARB that is affected by food. Food may decrease the rate and extent of valsartan absorption by about 40%.^9-12 However, the manufacturers state that the drug can be taken without regard to food.⁹

^References

1. Benicar [package insert] Parsippany, NJ: Daiichi Sankyo, Inc; 2009.
2. Micardis [package insert] Ridgefield, CT: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ; 2014.
3. Teveten [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: AbbVie Inc.; 2014.
4. Cozaar [package insert]. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; 2015.
5. Avapro [package insert] Bridgewater, NJ: Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC 2016.
6. Atacand [package insert] Wilmington, DE: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; 2016.
7. Edarbi [package insert] Atlanta, GA: Arbor Pharmaceuticals, LLC; 2016.
8. AHFS drug information. Gerald K. McEvoy PD, ed. 24:32.08 Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists. 59th ed. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2017.
9. Diovan [package insert] East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2017.
10. Chiolero A, Burnier M. Pharmacology of valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 1998; 7 (11): 1915-1925.
11. Israili ZH. Clinical pharmacokinetics of angiotensin II (AT1) receptor blockers in hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 2000; 14 Suppl 1: S73-86.
12. Michel MC, Foster C, Brunner HR, Liu L. A systematic comparison of the properties of clinically used angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists. Pharmacol Rev 2013; 65 (2): 809-848.