6β-hydroxy Dexamethasone is a metabolite of dexamethasone that is more hydrophilic than the parent compound. Dexamethasone is metabolized by CYP3A4; therefore, quantification of the dexamethasone metabolites, 6α- and 6β-hydroxy dexamethasone, can be used to determine CYP3A4 enzyme activity in humans., The formation of 6-hydroxy dexamethasone metabolites is species-specific, with hamsters producing the highest amount. In rats, dexamethasone hydroxylation is sex-specific, with male rats producing metabolites in similar ratios to humans and female rats producing fewer hydroxylated metabolites than male rats.