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Phase I Detoxification

Meaning

Phase I Detoxification is the initial, critical stage of the liver’s two-step biotransformation process for neutralizing fat-soluble toxins, metabolic waste, and spent hormones. This phase primarily involves the action of the Cytochrome P450 enzyme family, which utilizes oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis reactions to make these lipophilic compounds more polar and water-soluble. While essential for clearance, this process often creates intermediate metabolites that are transiently more reactive and potentially damaging to cellular structures.