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. 1983 Nov;16(5):503–509. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb02207.x

Influence of sex and oral contraceptive steroids on paracetamol metabolism.

J O Miners, J Attwood, D J Birkett
PMCID: PMC1428054  PMID: 6416284

Abstract

Paracetamol metabolism was investigated in eight healthy males, eight healthy females and eight healthy females receiving oral contraceptive steroids (OCS). Paracetamol clearance was 22% greater in males compared to the control female group. This difference was entirely due to increased activity of the glucuronidation pathway in males, there being no sex-related differences in the sulphation or oxidative metabolism of paracetamol. Paracetamol clearance in females using OCS was 49% greater than in the control females. Glucuronidation and oxidative metabolism were both induced in OCS users (by 78% and 36% respectively) but sulphation was not altered. Although sex-related differences in paracetamol metabolism are unlikely to be of clinical importance, induction of paracetamol metabolism by OCS may have clinical and toxicological consequences.

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Selected References

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