title: Comparison of the efficacy and safety of sodium phosphate tablets and polyethylene glycol solution for bowel cleansing in healthy Korean adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bowel cleansing is generally regarded as time-consuming and unpleasant among patients. Patients commonly state that bowel preparation provokes more discomfort than the actual colonoscopic examination. The purpose of this study was to compare two regimens of sodium phosphate (NaP) tablets versus polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution for bowel preparation in healthy Korean adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single center, prospective, open-label, investigator-blinded, randomized, controlled-pilot study. A total of 62 healthy Korean subjects were randomly assigned to two groups (NaP vs. PEG). Efficacy, safety, and patient-related outcomes, as well as procedural parameters, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there were no significant differences in total Ottawa bowel quality score, fluid scores and the rate of adequate bowel preparation were significantly better in the NaP group than the PEG group. Additionally, the NaP group showed better results regarding patient tolerance, satisfaction, preference, and rate of adverse events than the PEG group. Significant fluctuations in specific serum electrolytes were common and of a greater magnitude in the NaP group than the PEG group. However, these abnormalities were transient and did not result in serious complications and side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, NaP tablets were shown to be an effective, well-tolerated, and acceptable regimen for bowel preparation. Also, our study suggests that NaP tablets may be safe and can be used as a bowel cleansing agent in healthy adults undergoing elective colonoscopy. Further multicenter, large scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. djleemd@medicus.co.kr.
authors.forename: Duck-Joo
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Center, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Gunpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Ryul
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013607:Tablets; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013607:Tablets; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C018279:sodium phosphate
keywords: Sodium phosphate tablet; bowel preparation; efficacy; polyethylene glycol; safety