The effect of food on cyclosporine absorption

The effect of food on the absorption of cyclosporine was evaluated in 18 recipients of cadaveric renal transplants. Cyclosporine was administered orally with a standard hospital breakfast on one study day and without breakfast on the alternate study day. The oral absorption rate as measured by the observed time to peak concentration was not significantly altered by food. The administration of cyclosporine with food resulted in a significant increase in the peak (1465 ng/ml versus 1120 ng/ml) and trough (267 ng/ml versus 228 ng/ml) blood concentrations as well as the area under the blood concentration versus time curve (11430 ng . hr/ml versus 7881 ng . hr/ml). The mean increase in area under the blood concentration versus time curve was 60.6%. The exact mechanism by which food increases the absorption of cyclosporine is not known. Regardless of the mechanism involved, if adequate immunosuppression is achieved with lower doses of cyclosporine taken with food, significant cost savings could be realized.