Findings could have significant implications for drug dosing in pediatric patients
News — Researchers from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy have provided the first evidence-based data on changes in drug metabolism in obese children as compared to healthy weight children.
The study, conducted by L鈥橝urelle Johnson and Manoj Chiney in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacy, evaluated drug metabolism in sixteen healthy weight children and nine obese children.
鈥淲e have known for years that drugs metabolize differently in obese adults as compared to healthy weight adults,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淏ut, 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.鈥�
In the study, Johnson and 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庐 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.
鈥淐ollectively, 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,鈥� said Johnson.
Johnson will present the research, which was funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources 鈥淢ultidisciplinary Scholar Development Program鈥� 5K12RR023247, at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting in a poster titled 鈥淭he effect of obesity on drug metabolism in African-American children.鈥� The presentation will occur on Tuesday April 27 at 12:30 pm PST in Exhibit Hall CD of the Anaheim Convention Center.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting is part of the Experimental Biology 2010 conference that will be held April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The press is invited to attend or to make an appointment to interview Dr. Johnson. Please contact Nicole Kresge at 202.316.5447 or [email protected].
ASPET () is a 4,800 member scientific society whose members conduct basic and clinical pharmacological research in academia, industry and the government. Its members鈥� research efforts help develop new medicines and therapeutic agents to fight existing and emerging diseases.
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