The Birth-Weight Factor
Small babies may face lifelong problems metabolizing meds
Posted May 31 – article by Lee Sherman
Among the questions you may be asked someday by doctors who prescribe your medications is one that few people can probably answer: What was your birth weight?
Research by Ganesh Cherala of the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy suggests that when physicians prescribe drugs ranging from Tylenol to cancer chemotherapies, they may need to factor birth weight along with body weight into dosing decisions for their patients.
In tests with laboratory rats, Cherala found that the kidneys of underweight animals born to mothers that were fed low-protein diets during pregnancy and nursing had significantly less ability to process and transport drugs than animals whose mothers had adequate protein. His results suggest that low birth weight may hinder the body’s ability to process therapeutic drugs, thereby jeopardizing their effectiveness.
The culprit appears to be a protein called a “drug transporter,” says Cherala, an assistant professor who has a joint appointment with Oregon Health & Science University.
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