Malnutrition and drug metabolism in fetal and neonatal animals.

Protein-calorie malnutrition in experimental animals resulted in a complex picture of changes in various drug-metabolic pathways. The need for these studies is discussed in the context that undernutrition is prevalent in many countries and coincides with many intercurrent illnesses in the affected populations. The need of these affected populations for appropriate therapies is recognized, and these therapies should be based on scientific principles rather than on empiricism.