CYP2D6 phenotype and the metabolism of nicotine and cotinine

That CYP2D6 activity is an important determinant of nicotine metabolism and that people who have abnormal CYP2D6 genes are poor metabolizers of nicotine has been reported in the medical literature. The aim of this study was to assess the role of CYP2D6 in nicotine metabolism. Specifically, we compared the clearance of stable isotope-labelled nicotine and cotinine in 11 poor and 33 extensive metabolizers of dextromethorphan, a probe for CYP2D6 activity. The groups were matched by gender, age and ethnicity. Nicotine and cotinine kinetics were quite similar for cases and controls. These data suggest that CYP2D6 is not a major isozyme for the metabolism of nicotine or cotinine.