title: Pharmacokinetics of glycerol administered orally in healthy volunteers.
abstract: Of the three standard osmotherapeutics glycerol, mannitol and sorbitol, glycerol (CAS 56-81-5) alone can be applied orally. As only limited pharmacokinetic data after oral administration are available, studies were performed in 10 healthy subjects (2 female, 8 male, body weight 58-90 kg, age 23-47 years). After 12 h of fasting the subjects drank a single dose of 1.2 g/kg glycerol (Glycerol 85% DAB 9, flavoured with lemon juice). For the first 90 min venous blood was sampled every 15 min, for the following 6.5 h every 30 min. Glycerol serum concentrations were determined by an enzymatic procedure. Intestinal absorption was rapid. Maximum glycerol serum levels ranging from 1285-2238 mg/l (median = 1770 mg/l) were observed 1-2 h after ingestion. On the assumption of full intestinal absorption total body clearance was 0.18-0.26 l/h.kg, and the apparent volume of distribution 0.18-0.34 l/kg. The terminal elimination half-life ranged from 0.61-1.18 h. The concentration-time curves were not adequately described by linear pharmacokinetic models. In all subjects glycerol serum concentrations were high enough to induce increases of serum osmolality of at least 10 mosmol/kg. No signs of haemolysis or haemodilution were observed.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Göttingen, Abteilung Neurologie, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nau
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wieland
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Prange
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012964:Sodium; D005990:Glycerol