administered shortly after a meal. The nutrient and calorie contents of the meal, the meal
volume and the meal temperature can cause physiological changes in the gastrointestinal tract
in a way that affects drug product transit time, luminal dissolution, drug permeability and
systemic availability. In general, meals that are high in calorie and fat content are more
likely to affect gastrointestinal physiology and thereby, result in a larger effect
on the bioavailability of a drug
substance.
There are several reviews on the effects of food on the pharmacokinetics of
drugs (Karim., 1996, Welling., 1996, Fleisher et al., 1999, Singh., 1999). Interactions
between food and drugs can unintentionally reduce or increase the effect of the drug, resulting
in
therapeutic failure or increased toxicity.