THE HUMAN MICROBIOME AND ITS INFLUENCE ON DRUG METABOLISM: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRECISION MEDICINE AND PERSONALIZED PHARMACOTHERAPY

Abstract

The human microbiome is crucial in drug metabolism and, hence, the efficacy and toxicity of drug treatment. Over the past few years, pharmacomicrobiomics has provided insight into how gut microbiota influence drug absorption, metabolism, and elimination, giving rise to inter-individual variability in responses to therapy. Knowledge of the complex interplay between microbial communities and drug metabolism brings forth novel vistas for precision medicine and personalized pharmacotherapy. The review will discuss the mechanisms by which the microbiota influence drug metabolism, list recent innovations in the area, and present some challenges to the integration of microbiome-based strategies into clinical practice. The human microbiome constitutes a vital yet understudied factor for drug metabolism and personalized pharmacotherapy. With the evolution of pharmacomicrobiomics and the integration of microbiome data into clinical decision-making, a paradigm shift for precision medicine may be at hand. However, consideration will have to be given to the challenges of variability among individuals, standardization, and regulatory frameworks to ensure that these microbiome-based insights can be translated into a readily applicable therapeutic setting. Research data demonstrates how the gut microbiome functions as a key determinant of drug metabolism so precision medicine needs microbiome analysis. Research studies need to investigate how microbiome changes over time affect individuals undergoing ongoing drug treatment. The translation of these findings to individualized medicine requires verification with different demographic groups.