Drug Reponses Could be Predicted by Urine Testing August 19
A standard urine screen can verify how a patient will react to acetaminophen, according to researchers, and it could be the first step toward predicting patient response to many other drugs in the future.
The key to this knowledge lies in the levels of the molecule para-cresol sulfate which is produced by bacteria in the gut and it has been found, competes with acetaminophen in one pathway that absorbs the drug. The higher level of para-cresol sulfate there is in the body the less acetaminophen sulfate reaches the urine. Revealing that gut bacteria may affect the way diseases develop in the body and how our bodies respond to them. In essence this molecule competes with drugs for a limited level of sulfur available in the body.
This is a major breakthrough that could help predict the way diseases that deplete sulfur metabolism develop, potentially opening up new avenues in disease research and prevention as well.
Tags: acetaminophen, disease, Drug Testing, para-cresol sulfate, sulfate, sulfurs, urine sample