Biotransformation or Detoxification Pathways

Online Article

This page contains educational material about Biotransformation (detoxification) pathways of the body. This information is for educational purposes only. Nothing in this text is intended to serve as medical advice. All medical decisions should be made only with the guidance of your own personal medical authority.

Our bodies need to have a mechanism to remove unwanted chemicals or toxins from the body. We are exposed to both exogenous (xenobiotics) substances as well as endogenous substances (products of metabolism) that need to be removed from the body. Many toxins need to be altered by specific metabolic pathways before the body can remove them. Generally, the idea is to get the more lipophilic or fat-soluble substances changed into more water-soluble compounds, which are easier to remove from the body. Water soluble substances can be more easily disposed of in the urine or the bile. However, we do use our sweat, breath, hair, skin and even nails to get rid of toxic elements. The process of changing toxic substances into less toxic or non-toxic substances is called biotransformation.

Click here to read the full article online at www.herbaltransitions.com.

[Hepatobiliary System. Liver. Toxins. Xenobiotics. Detoxification. Biotransformation.]