Possible defect in xenobiotic activation before glycine conjugation in protein-energy malnutrition.

1. [14C]Benzoic acid administered to rats fed a normal diet was excreted mainly (99% of 24h excretion) as hippuric acid. 2. In protein-energy malnourished rats, only about 74% of [14C]benzoic acid administered was excreted as hippuric acid. The remainder was excreted as the glucuronide conjugate. 3. The oxidative phosphorylation capacity of liver mitochondria of malnourished rats was 30% less than that of normal rat liver mitochondria. 4. The decreased rate in oxidative phosphorylation is discussed in relationship to the observed decrease in glycine conjugation.