Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Mass Spectrometry and Luminogenic-based Approaches to Characterize Phase I Metabolic Competency of In Vitro Cell Cultures
10:44

Mass Spectrometry and Luminogenic-based Approaches to Characterize Phase I Metabolic Competency of In Vitro Cell Cultures

Published on: March 28, 2017

Drug metabolism in the paediatric population and in the elderly

Margherita Strolin Benedetti1, Rhys Whomsley, Michael Canning

  • 1UCB Pharma, 21 rue de Neuilly, 92003 Nanterre Cedex, France. margherita.strolin@ucb-group.com

Drug Discovery Today
|August 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Drug metabolism differs significantly in pediatric and elderly populations due to changes in drug metabolizing enzymes. These age-related variations in enzymes like CYP3A7 and glucuronosyltransferases impact drug exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Metabolism
  • Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

  • Drug exposure and metabolite levels vary between pediatric, elderly, and adult populations.
  • Understanding age-related differences in drug metabolism is crucial for safe and effective drug therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the key factors contributing to differences in drug/metabolite exposure in pediatric and elderly individuals compared to adults.
  • To highlight the role of drug metabolizing enzymes in these age-related pharmacokinetic variations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on changes in drug metabolizing enzyme activity and concentration across different age groups.
  • Analysis of qualitative and quantitative differences in Phase I and Phase II drug metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in Phase I enzymes (e.g., CYP3A7 vs. CYP3A4, CYP1A2) and Phase II enzymes (e.g., glucuronosyltransferases) observed in pediatric populations compared to adults.
  • Impairment noted in some Phase I enzymes (e.g., esterases) in the elderly population.
  • Phase II reactions appear less extensively affected by old age, though some decreases are observed.

Conclusions:

  • Age-dependent alterations in drug metabolizing enzymes are a primary driver of differential drug/metabolite exposure in pediatric and elderly patients.
  • Specific differences in Phase I and Phase II enzyme activity in these populations necessitate tailored therapeutic approaches.

More Related Videos

An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment08:59

An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment

Published on: December 3, 2020

Semi-Targeted Ultra-High-Performance Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Phenolic Metabolites in Plasma of Elderly Adults14:39

Semi-Targeted Ultra-High-Performance Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Phenolic Metabolites in Plasma of Elderly Adults

Published on: April 22, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...