iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll cdt heDrug Metabolism and the Liver CYP450 enzymes are the primary mode of drug metabolism in
our bodies. Some medications can saturate, speed up, or slow
down the enzymes, which can lead to adverse drug events and
drug-to-drug interactions.
Tylenol® overdose: Tylenol® is a medication commonly used for
headaches, pain, and fevers. When taking Tylenol® at normal doses
without any interacting drugs or liver impairment, the liver converts
Tylenol® into a toxic intermediary, which is then quickly bound by
glutathione and eliminated. When the total daily dose of Tylenol®
exceeds 4 grams a day, the body runs out of glutathione and the toxic
metabolite builds up, leading to liver failure and even death.
N-acetyl cysteine (which converts to glutathione) is given to people
who overdose on Tylenol® to help the liver clear the toxic metabolite.
Some medications (and a substance found in grapefruit) can inhibit
liver enzymes, resulting in a toxic buildup of medications that
require the particular enzymes for metabolism.The alkaline and acidic properties of foods are confusing, mostly because
people use the same terminology to describe the taste of the food as well as
to discuss whether the body needs to produce more acid or alkaline enzymes
to digest the food.
A food such as a tomato, for example, may be considered an acidic food
to those who eat it, but it requires alkaline enzymes to digest it, thus leav-
ing a net alkaline residue in the body.
In contrast, milk doesn’t taste acidic, but it requires acidic enzymes to be
digested.
Foods that are high in protein but low in potassium are generally going to
be acidic. This includes most meats, dairy, some nuts, and cereals/grains
that are poor in potassium. Additionally, most processed foods are consid-
ered acidic as well.
In contrast, foods rich in potassium but low in protein, such as fruits and
vegetables, require an alkaline environment for digestion.