How Can Environmental Factors Influence Drug Metabolism?
Environmental factors, including diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exposure to pollutants, can alter the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes. For example, compounds in grapefruit juice can inhibit CYP3A4, affecting the metabolism of many drugs and increasing their plasma concentrations. Similarly, cigarette smoke can induce certain CYP enzymes, potentially decreasing the effectiveness of drugs metabolized by these pathways.
