The role of the intestinal microflora in the reductive metabolism of acenocoumarol in man.

Although the oral anticoagulant acenocoumarol (AC) is very effectively metabolized by the intestinal microflora to its amino metabolite, under clinical conditions this route of AC-disposition is of no importance because the compound is rapidly absorbed from its pharmaceutical application form. Only when the gastro-intestinal absorption is retarded, for instance by using a capsule as vehiculum, are appreciable amounts of reduced metabolites recovered in urine.