A new oral formulation for the release of sodium butyrate in the ileo-cecal region and colon

摘要

AIM: To develop a new formulation with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose and Shellac coating for extended and selective delivery of butyrate in the ileo-caecal region and colon.METHODS: One-gram sodium butyrate coated tablets containing ¹³C-butyrate were orally administered to 12 healthy subjects and 12 Crohn’s disease patients and the rate of ¹³C-butyrate absorption was evaluated by ¹³CO2 breath test analysis for eight hours. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (500 mg) was co-administered as a biomarker of oro-ileal transit time to determine also the site of release and absorption of butyrate by the time of its serum maximum concentration.RESULTS: The coated formulation delayed the ¹³C-butyrate release by 2-3 h with respect to the uncoated tablets. Sodium butyrate was delivered in the intestine of all subjects and a more variable transit time was found in Crohn’s disease patients than in healthy subjects. The variability of the peak ¹³CO2 in the kinetic release of butyrate was explained by the inter-subject variability in transit time. However, the coating chosen ensured an efficient release of the active compound even in patients with a short transit time.CONCLUSION: Simultaneous evaluation of breath ¹³CO2 and tauroursodeoxycholic acid concentration-time curves has shown that the new oral formulation consistently releases sodium butyrate in the ileo-cecal region and colon both in healthy subjects and Crohn’s disease patients with variable intestinal transit time. This formulation may be of therapeutic value in inflammatory bowel disease patients due to the appropriate release of the active compound.