Deposition and gastrointestinal transit of conventional sucralfate tablets

Sucralfate was labelled with 99mTc by the stannous reduction method. Tablets were compressed using 1 g of radioactive sucralfate and suitable additives. On the first test day, five fully informed healthy volunteers were given one radioactive tablet of sucralfate each, following 10 h fasting. On the second test day, the sucralfate tablet was given after a standard meal. The gastrointestinal transit of the 99mTc-labelled sucralfate was evaluated using gamma camera technique. The labelling of sucralfate with 99mTc by the stannous reduction method enables the deposition and the transition of sucralfate in the gastrointestinal tract to be monitored. The tablets disintegrated almost immediately after administration and the released sucralfate distributed homogenously over the entire stomach area, in both fasted and fed subjects. Transit from the stomach into the intestine was noted already 10 min after administration in fasted subjects, whereas the gastric emptying of sucralfate was markedly delayed in fed subjects. To achieve a wider and more homogenous distribution in the GI-tract, sucralfate tablets should be taken before eating.