POLYMORPHIC DEBRISOQUIN METABOLISM IN A TURKISH POPULATION

Debrisoquin hydroxylation polymorphism was studied in 326 unrelated he althy Turkish volunteers. Debrisoquin sulfate (10 mg) was administered to subjects, and debrisoquin and 4-hydroxydebrisoquin were determined in the 0- to 8-hour urine samples. Debrisoquin oxidation was polymorp hic, with 11 subjects (3.37%; 95% confidence interval, 1.69% to 6.07%) phenotyped as poor metabolizers. The metabolic ratio between debrisoq uin and 4-hydroxydebrisoquine in 8-hour urine samples ranged from 0.02 in extensive metabolizers to 263.8 in poor metabolizers. The proporti on of poor metabolizers was found to be in the range observed in the o ther white populations studied.