The effect of eating on transit through the small intestine.

The effect of eating on the transit of radiolabelled particles through the small intestine has been monitored in eight healthy subjects dosed after an overnight fast. Each subject participated on three occasions and either remained fasting for 9 h after dosing or consumed a meal at 1.5 h or 4 h. The mean +/- 1 S.D. small intestinal transit time during the fasting study was 5.5 +/- 2.1 h and during the 1.5h and 4 h fed studies 4.8 +/- 2.9 h and 4.7 +/- 2.2 h, respectively. These times were not significantly different, nor were the rates of entry of the particles into the colon. These findings indicate that once in the small intestine the efficacy of orally administered pharmaceutical preparations is unlikely to be affected by eating.