Cytochrome P450 Enzymes: How Your Liver Metabolizes Medications

The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) system is a group of liver enzymes responsible for metabolizing (breaking down) drugs and other foreign substances in the body. The most important CYP450 enzymes involved in drug metabolism are CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP1A2. These enzymes play a critical role in the clearance of many medications from the body and can be affected by various factors, including genetics, age, liver disease, and interactions with other drugs or substances.