Ammonia Detoxification Pathway

The Ammonia detoxification pathway encompasses coordinated enzymatic processes—primarily the hepatic urea cycle supplemented by extrahepatic glutamine synthesis—that convert potentially toxic free ammonia into non-toxic compounds suitable for elimination from the body. Dysfunction at any step may have serious clinical consequences including neurological impairment.

Other names

Urea CycleGlutamine Synthesis PathwayNitrogen DetoxificationAmmonia Metabolism

Ammonia scavengers bind to ammonia, forming compounds that are excreted in urine. Lactulose promotes ammonia excretion in feces. Rifaximin reduces ammonia-producing bacteria in the gut. Glycerol phenylbutyrate is converted to phenylacetate, which binds to glutamine and promotes its excretion.