INCREASED OXIDATION AND DECREASED CONJUGATION OF DRUGS IN THE LIVER CAUSED BY STARVATION - ALTERED METABOLISM OF CERTAIN AROMATIC-COMPOUNDSAND ACETONE

Starvation causes several changes in the various processes of biotrans formation. The focus of this review is on biotransformation of various aromatic and other compounds whose metabolism is catalyzed in phase I by isozymes belonging to the CYP2E1 gene subfamily, while in phase II phenol-UDPGT or conjugation with GSH play a dominant role. The other ways of conjugation are beyond the scope of this review. The reason wh y this aspect has been chosen is that the capacity of these reactions is profoundly altered by nutritional conditions. There is a balance be tween the two phases of biotransformation. Therefore, under standard c ircumstances in a well-fed state the intermediate formed in the course of phase I is converted to a conjugated compound rapidly, as a result of phase II. However, in starvation the pattern of drug metabolism is altered and the balance between the two phases is changed. This alter ation of drug metabolism upon starvation is partly connected to the ch anges of cofactor supplies due to the metabolic state.