Pharma IQ Glossary: Metabolic Diseases

Metabolic Diseases, also referred to as inborn errors of metabolism, congenital metabolic diseases or inherited metabolic diseases comprise a large class of genetic diseases involving disorders of metabolism. The majority are due to defects of single genes that code for enzymes that facilitate conversion of various substances (substrates) into others (products). In most of the disorders, problems arise due to accumulation of substances which are toxic or interfere with normal function, or to the effects of reduced ability to synthesize essential compounds.