Health
Metabolic differences in enzymes
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 6, 2006
Evidence that major changes occur during human development in the types and levels of enzymes responsible for the disposition of drugs and environmental chemicals was presented Feb. 16 at the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in St. Louis.
These enzymes can inactivate drugs, activate them or do both, depending on the compound and the number of enzymes involved, researchers said. They noted that the application of this and similar information could help predict a child's likelihood of effective drug treatment or susceptibility to an unfavorable drug reaction.
"The dramatic changes observed in enzyme expression must be considered when examining issues of drug effectiveness and safety during early life stages," said lead investigator Ronald N. Hines, PhD, professor of pediatrics and pharmacology and toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
"Additional studies are needed to understand how these dramatic changes are regulated and the molecular basis for differences among individuals, to better predict drug and toxicant responses in children," he said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/03/06/hlbf0306.htm.
