During a nutritional assessment, why is it important for the nurse to ask a patient what medications he or she is taking?

A) Certain drugs can affect the metabolism of nutrients.
B) The nurse needs to assess the patient for allergic reactions.
C) Medications need to be documented in the record for the physician's review.
D) Medications can affect one's memory and ability to identify food eaten in the last 24 hours.

Analgesics, antacids, anticonvulsants, antibiotics, diuretics, laxatives, antineoplastic drugs, steroids, and oral contraceptives are drugs that can interact with nutrients, impairing their digestion, absorption, metabolism, or use. The other responses are not correct. In conducting a nutritional assessment, the nurse does not ask about patient medications to assess for allergic reactions, to document for physician review, or to identify potential influence on the patient's food recall. Instead, the nurse asks about medications during a nutritional assessment to assess for potential interactions with foods or nutrients.