POTATO

OTHER NAME(S):

Irish Potato, Ja Ying Ye, Papa, Patatas, Patate, Patate Irlandaise, Pomme de Terre, Pomme de Terre Blanche, Pomme de Terre Irlandaise, Purple Potato, Solani Tuberosi Tuber Recens, Solanum tuberosum, White Potato.

Overview

Overview Information

Potato is a plant. The fleshy part of the root (potato) is commonly eaten as a vegetable. Potato is also used to make medicine.

People use potatoes for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, indigestion (dyspepsia), and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, potato is eaten, used as a source of starch, and fermented into alcohol.

How does it work?

Potatoes might limit appetite so people can lose weight. A chemical in the potato peel might also prevent bacteria from attaching to cells. Potatoes are a source of vitamin C, iron, riboflavin, potassium, and carbohydrates.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Ineffective for

  • Cancer. Eating potatoes does not appear to prevent death due to cancer.
  • Colon cancer, rectal cancer. Eating potatoes does not appear to prevent colon or rectal cancer.
  • Heart attack. Eating potatoes does not appear to prevent heart attacks.
  • Death from any cause. Eating potatoes does not appear to prevent death from any cause.
  • Stroke. Eating potatoes does not appear to prevent stroke.

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Heart disease. Early research shows that eating purple potatoes can reduce the stiffness of arteries, but doesn't seem to improve other risk factors for heart disease. Also, population studies have found that eating potatoes does not prevent heart disease.
  • Indigestion (dyspepsia). Early research shows that drinking potato juice might help to improve feelings of indigestion in some people.
  • High blood pressure. Early research shows that eating small purple potatoes might reduce blood pressure levels by a small amount.
  • Boils.
  • Burns.
  • Infections.
  • Obesity.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of potato for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: It is LIKELY SAFE to eat unblemished, ripe potatoes as food. It is POSSIBLY SAFE to take unblemished, ripe potatoes, potato juice, or potato extracts as medicine. Eating fried potatoes might cause weight gain. Drinking potato juice can cause heartburn, bloating, and diarrhea.

It is LIKELY UNSAFE to eat damaged potatoes, green potatoes, and sprouts. These can contain poisonous chemicals that cannot be destroyed by cooking. These poisonous chemicals can cause sweating, headache, flushing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, thirst, restlessness, and even death.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if potato is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is LIKELY SAFE to eat unblemished, ripe potatoes when pregnant or breast-feeding. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if the larger amounts used as medicine are safe. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Interactions

Interactions?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

!

  • Medications for dissolving blood clots (Thrombolytic Drugs) interacts with POTATO

    Potatoes contain a chemical that decreases blood clotting. Taking large amounts of potato with medications used for dissolving blood clots might increase the chance of bleeding and bruising.
    Some medications used for dissolving blood clots include alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), reteplase (Retevase), streptokinase (Streptase), and urokinase (Abbokinase).

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of potato 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 potato. 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.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Agrawal A. Potato peel extract holds potential as antiboitic. Reuters Health May 23, 2000. www.medscape.com (Accessed 23 May 2000).
  • Bestas A, Goksu H, Erhan OL. The effect of preoperative consumption of potatoes on succinylcholine-induced block and recovery from anesthesia. J Clin Monit Comput. 2013;27(6):609-12. View abstract.
  • Chrubasik S, Chrubasik C, Torda T, Madisch A. Efficacy and tolerability of potato juice in dyspeptic patients: a pilot study. Phytomedicine. 2006;13(1-2):11-5. View abstract.
  • Darooghegi Mofrad M, Milajerdi A, Sheikhi A, Azadbakht L. Potato consumption and risk of all cause, cancer and cardiovascular mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2020;60(7):1063-76. View abstract.
  • Elefterova-Florova EV, Popova DN, Andreeva RV. An unusual and rare case of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis caused by ingestion of potatoes. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2018;60(3):479-82. View abstract.
  • Hill AJ, Peikin SR, Ryan CA, Blundell JE. Oral administration of proteinase inhibitor II from potatoes reduces energy intake in man. Physiol Behav 1990;48:241-6. View abstract.
  • Klement P, Liao P, Bajzar L. A novel approach to arterial thrombolysis. Blood 1999;94:2735-43. View abstract.
  • Kopin AS, Mathes WF, McBride EW, et al. The cholecystokinin-A receptor mediates inhibition of food intake yet is not essential for the maintenance of body weight. J Clin Invest 1999;103:383-91. View abstract.
  • Lam WF, Gielkens HA, de Boer SY, et al. Influence of hyperglycemia on the satiating effect of CCK in humans. Physiol Behav 1998;65:505-11. View abstract.
  • Larsson SC, Wolk A. Potato consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease: 2 prospective cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;104(5):1245-1252. View abstract.
  • Mensinga TT, Sips AJ, Rompelberg CJ, et al. Potato glycoalkaloids and adverse effects in humans: an ascending dose study. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2005;41(1):66-72. View abstract.
  • Peters HP, Foltz M, Kovacs EM, et al. The effect of protease inhibitors derived from potato formulated in a minidrink on appetite, food intake and plasma cholecystokinin levels in humans. Int J Obes (Lond). 2011;35(2):244-50. View abstract.
  • Redlitz A, Nicolini FA, Malycky JL, et al. Inducible carboxypeptidase activity. A role in clot lysis in vivo. Circulation 1996;93:1328-30. View abstract.
  • Satietrol press releases. PacificHealth Labs, Inc., Woodbridge, NJ. www.satietrol.com/press.htm and www.satietrol.com/press1.htm (Accessed 10 January 2000).
  • Schwingshackl L, Schwedhelm C, Hoffmann G, Boeing H. Potatoes and risk of chronic disease: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr. 2019;58(6):2243-51. View abstract.
  • Tsang C, Smail NF, Almoosawi S, McDougall GJM, Al-Dujaili EAS. Antioxidant rich potato improves arterial stiffness in healthy adults. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2018;73(3):203-8. View abstract.
  • Vinson JA, Demkosky CA, Navarre DA, Smyda MA. High-antioxidant potatoes: acute in vivo antioxidant source and hypotensive agent in humans after supplementation to hypertensive subjects. J Agric Food Chem. 2012;60(27):6749-54. View abstract.
  • Zhu Y, Lasrado JA, Hu J. Potato protease inhibitor II suppresses postprandial appetite in healthy women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Food Funct. 2017;8(5):1988-1993. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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