Polymorphic debrisoquin metabolism in a Turkish population.

Debrisoquin hydroxylation polymorphism was studied in 326 unrelated healthy Turkish volunteers. Debrisoquin sulfate (10 mg) was administered to subjects, and debrisoquin and 4-hydroxydebrisoquin were determined in the 0- to 8-hour urine samples. Debrisoquin oxidation was polymorphic, with 11 subjects (3.37%; 95% confidence interval, 1.69% to 6.07%) phenotyped as poor metabolizers. The metabolic ratio between debrisoquin and 4-hydroxydebrisoquin in 8-hour urine samples ranged from 0.02 in extensive metabolizers to 263.8 in poor metabolizers. The proportion of poor metabolizers was found to be in the range observed in the other white populations studied.