Effect of food on the absorption of enteric-coated aspirin: Correlation with gastric residence time

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Abstract
The Heidelberg capsule is an indigestible indicator of gastrointestinal pH, which was used to evaluate the relationship between gastric residence time (GRT) and variability in aspirin absorption from enteric-coated tablets. In a crossover study, eight healthy subjects (four men and four women) received an enteric-coated aspirin (648 mg) together with a Heidelberg capsule while fasting or with food (breakfast, followed 4 hours later by lunch). Salicylic acid and salicyluric acid concentrations in plasma and urine were measured by HPLC. The mean (.+-. SD) GRT was significantly delayed by food (0.8 .+-. 0.5 vs. 5.9 .+-. 3.3 hours; P < 0.005). The mean (.+-. SD) lag time (TL) and time to peak concentration (expressed as salicylic acid equivalents) were markedly prolonged after the fed regimen (2.7 .+-. 0.8 vs. 8.9 .+-. 3.7 hours [P < 0.005] and 8.3 .+-. 2.9 vs. 13.8 .+-. 4.5 [P < 0.025]). For the combined data from the fasting and fed evaluations, an excellent correlation existed between TL and GRT of the capsule (TL = 1.0 GRT + 1.95; n=16; r=0.94; P < 0.0001). Women demonstrated greater delays in GRT and TL than did men. The delay in aspirin absorption from an enteric-coated tablet is directly related to its GRT, which is gender related and greatly affected by food.