The Effect of Specific Gravity and Eating on Gastric Emptying of Slow-Release Capsules

Abstract

To the Editor: Slow-release capsules appear to be a good way to administer drugs when constant serum concentrations are required over long periods, but the bioavailability of their contents shows great inter-individual variation.¹ Since this might be due to different gastric emptying of the capsules, we studied two variables: non-digestible capsules, either heavy (sinking) or light (floating), were given to healthy volunteers either with a meal or during fasting. For this purpose, we administered two floating capsules (6 by 6 by 20 mm, 0.57 cm³; specific gravity, 0.51), labeled with 5 μCi of ⁵⁷Co, and two sinking capsules of . . .