Variability in caffeine metabolism.

Urinary metabolites excreted after oral caffeine were quantified in a healthy sample (n = 68) from the Toronto population by HPLC analyses. The profile of metabolites, assessed by examining particular metabolite ratios, was found to differ widely among subjects. Ratios denoting cytochrome P-450-dependent activities were shown to be interethnically variable between oriental and Caucasian groups, whereas those indicative of xanthine oxidase activity exhibited neither significant interindividual variation nor an ethnic difference. It was also shown that a ratio providing an index of polymorphic N-acetyltransferase activity holds promise as a simple marker for acetylator status in man.