ENZYME INDUCTION BY EATING CHARCOAL‐GRILLED STEAK WITH NO EFFECT ON BLOOD LIPIDS

Abstract

1. There has been interest in the suggestion that enzyme‐inducing drugs, such as anticonvulsants, may produce beneficial changes in lipoprotein levels, in particular a rise in the ratio of high density lipoprotein cholesterol to total cholesterol. 2. This controlled study observed the effects of diets of charcoal or oven‐cooked beef on antipyrine clearance (a commonly used measure of drug metabolizing capacity), the apparent oral clearance of phenacetin (a measure of cytochrome P448‐dependent enzyme activity) and blood lipids in 18 healthy volunteers. 3. Charcoal‐cooked beef increased antipyrine clearance by an average of 20% (P < 0.059) and increased the apparent oral clearance of phenaceti..