Answer: A - Age, Sex, Weight
Age, sex, and weight are significant factors in pharmacokinetics, the study of how drugs move through the body, but their impact on drug absorption is complex and variable. Age can influence drug absorption: for instance, in elderly patients, changes in gastric pH and slower gastric emptying can alter how drugs are absorbed. In infants and children, immature organ systems can affect drug absorption patterns. Sex differences can also play a role; hormonal variations and differences in body composition between males and females can influence drug metabolism and efficacy, though the direct impact on absorption is less clear. Weight, particularly body fat percentage, can significantly affect the distribution and metabolism of drugs. Obese individuals may have altered absorption rates for certain drugs, and dosages often need adjustment based on body weight to ensure efficacy and safety. While these factors are more prominently involved in other aspects of pharmacokinetics, like metabolism and elimination, their influence on absorption, though less direct, is an important consideration in personalized medicine.
