Acetylator phenotypes: effect of age.

The distribution of acetylator phenotypes in a Hungarian population of 253 Caucasian was studied. The patients were divided into two age groups - the elderly over 60 years, and young below that age. The individuals below the age of 60 years contained an equal proportion of the two acetylator phenotypes. The same distribution was observed in the population as a whole. In the elderly subjects the slow acetylator phenotype was predominant. The finding supports the hypothesis that age has an influence on hepatic drug acetylation rate.