title: Impact of formulation excipients on human intestinal transit.
abstract: The accelerating effect of polyethylene glycol 400 on small intestinal transit has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of other solubility-enhancing excipient, propylene glycol, D-alpha-tocopheryl-polyethylene glycol-1,000 succinate (VitE-TPGS) and Capmul MCM, on human intestinal transit. A 5-g dose of each excipient was administered to seven healthy male subjects. Propylene glycol and VitE-TPGS were administered dissolved in 150 mL water. Capmul MCM was administered in the form of four 000 hard gelatin capsules to mask its taste and then given with 150 mL water. On a separate occasion, 150 mL water was administered as the control. Each formulation was radiolabelled with technetium-99 m to follow its transit using a gamma camera. The mean small intestinal transit times were 234, 207, 241 and 209 min for the control, propylene glycol, VitE-TPGS and Capmul MCM treatments, respectively. Although there were differences in the small intestinal transit times for the excipients investigated compared with the control, none of the results were statistically significant. Unlike polyethylene glycol 400 at the same dose of 5 g, the excipients tested (propylene glycol, VitE-TPGS and Capmul MCM) had little or no impact on small intestinal transit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
authors.forename: Julia D R
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Diane A I
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ashiru
authors.forename: Mandeep K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Khela
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Coffin
authors.forename: Abdul W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Basit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002210:Caprylates; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D005079:Excipients / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D005079:Excipients; D005989:Glycerides; D014810:Vitamin E; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D019946:Propylene Glycol; C014225:tocophersolan; C025343:monooctanoin