metabolite

noun me·tab·o·lite \ -ˌlīt \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Definition of metabolite

1 : a product of metabolism

2 : a substance essential to the metabolism of a particular organism or to a particular metabolic process

Recent Examples of metabolite from the Web

Tests for a metabolite that is in heroin dropped by 11 percent from 2016 to 2017, a three-year low.

— katie zezima, Washington Post, "More U.S. workers test positive for meth, cocaine and marijuana, study says," 14 May 2018
The metabolites, Mazmanian adds, may send a signal through the vagus nerve or bypass it completely through another pathway such as the bloodstream.

— diana kwon, Scientific American, "Does Parkinson’s Begin in the Gut?," 8 May 2018
For example, coffee cut levels of certain metabolites related to the endocannabinoid system — the same system affected by marijuana.

— amy norton, chicagotribune.com, "Coffee may affect metabolism more than previously thought," 21 Mar. 2018
Peru's all-time top scorer is presently banned from the Russia 2018 World Cup after testing positive for the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine, following a World Cup qualifying match away to Argentina in October 2017.

— henry young, CNN, "Paolo Guerrero's shattered World Cup dream prompts calls for anti-doping reform," 22 May 2018
Guerrero, who will be unable to play until January, had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, after a World Cup qualifier against Argentina last October.

— avi creditor, SI.com, "Paolo Guerrero Blasts CAS Ruling That Rules Peru Captain Out of World Cup," 15 May 2018
Working on the assumption that the monkeys use hot springs to keep warm, the Kyoto University team tested the animals’ feces for levels of glucocorticoids, a metabolite that is linked to biological stress, explains Rachael Rettner of Live Science.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Chilling Out in Hot Springs May Help Japan’s Snow Monkeys Reduce Stress," 5 Apr. 2018
Among women whose bodies produce the soy metabolite equol, those who consumed the most soy experienced significantly fewer hot flashes and night sweats compared to those who ate the least soy, found one Menopause study.

— marygrace taylor, Good Housekeeping, "Is Soy Good Or Bad For You? We Have The Science-Backed Answer.," 17 May 2017
The medical examiner also found Clements had cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in her bloodstream.

— Fox News, "Medical examiner: Woman was shot 3 times by Illinois officer," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'metabolite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.