Interaction Between Nutrition and Theophylline Metabolism in Children

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influences on theophylline [a bronchodilator] metabolism are multifactorial and may result in significant inter- and intrapatient variability in drug responsiveness. Clinical investigations with adult patients have demonstrated the influence of diet on theophylline metabolism following a single drug dose. The effect of nutritional factors on theophylline pharmacokinetics in 14 asthmatic children receiving the drug on a chronic basis was investigated. For 12-day periods each patient received 3 separate diets with different proportions of protein and carbohydrate but with constant fat and caloric intake. Significant differences were detected for theophylline half-life, apparent volume of distribution and metabolic clearance rate. The high-protein diet markedly shortened the drug-elimination half-life relative to a normal diet, and high carbohydrate significantly increased it (both P < 0.001). Other kinetic parameters confirmed this pattern. Nutritional factors have a significant environmental influence on theophylline metabolism during the drug''s steady-state pharmacokinetics [in children].