Obesity a factor in how kids metabolize drugs
April 28th, 2010 - 5:07 pm ICT by ANIWashington, April 28 (ANI): Children who are overweight or obese metabolize drugs differently than normal-weight kids, according to a new study.
As part of the study, researchers from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy evaluated drug metabolism in sixteen healthy weight children and nine obese children.
“We have known for years that drugs metabolize differently in obese adults as compared to healthy weight adults. But, there has been very little, if any, information available that specifically addresses the consequences of obesity on drug metabolism in children. Without this information, our ability to identify optimal drug dosing in children often relies on trial and error approaches,” said L’Aurelle Johnson in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacy.
In the study, Johnson and co-author Manoj Chiney examined drug metabolizing enzyme activity in healthy weight and obese children, age 6 to 10 years old.
Specifically, they looked at how the children metabolized caffeine and dextromethorphan, a key ingredient in the cough suppressant Robitussin DM.
They found that obese children metabolized both drugs at different rates than healthy weight children.
Johnson said this finding is the first of many steps in determining the overall effect of obesity on drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination in children.
She plans to conduct additional research to define the activity of other drug metabolizing enzymes that may also be altered in the pediatric population as a result of obesity.
“Collectively, such knowledge concerning key factors that impact activity of drug metabolizing enzymes in children will have a significant positive impact on the development of optimal drug dosing regiments in children in order to maximize efficacy, while minimizing potential adverse drug effects, in the treatment of serious diseases such as cancer,” said Johnson.
Johnson will present the research at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting. (ANI)
- Specific Vitamin E dose can benefit nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients - Apr 29, 2010
- Experimental anti-obesity drug cuts body weight sans side effects - Jul 13, 2010
- Obesity no bar to fitness and health - Sep 05, 2012
- Insulin sensitivity may explain obesity, memory problems link - Oct 20, 2010
- Infants of obese mothers slow developers - Aug 07, 2012
- Hormone pits fat against fat to reverse obesity - Oct 05, 2011
- Asians, Europeans need different doses for same condition - Oct 17, 2011
- Leaner diabetics have higher death rate - Aug 08, 2012
- Human enzyme holds promise of weight loss - Nov 15, 2011
- Exercise can undo effects of maternal obesity - Feb 10, 2012
- Beer belly or muffin top double mortality risk in heart disease patients - May 03, 2011
- What babies eat determines risk of obesity - Aug 31, 2012
- Fructose does not increase food intake or impact weight: Extensive study - Feb 11, 2011
- Childhood obesity genes identified - Apr 12, 2012
- Missing protein helps mice on high-fat diet stay slim - Apr 16, 2010
Tags: aurelle, clinical pharmacy, college of pharmacy, consequences of obesity, cough suppressant, dextromethorphan, drug absorption, drug effects, drug metabolism, effect of obesity, enzyme activity, impact activity, johnson and co, minnesota college, obese adults, obese children, pediatric population, robitussin, robitussin dm, study researchers