Absorption of acetylsalicylic acid from enteric-coated tablets in relation to gastric emptying and in-vivo disintegration.

The absorption of acetylsalicylic (ASA) acid from enteric coated tablets was studied in relation to gastric emptying and in-vivo disintegration. ASA tablets labelled with 51Cr were given to six healthy subjects under fasting and non-fasting conditions. The position and disintegration of the 51Cr-labelled tablets was followed by external radiation measurement and the amount of salicylic acid in blood and urine was analysed. The absorption of ASA from the studied enteric coated tablets was usually correlated with gastric emptying and in-vivo disintegration. However in some cases the absorption can be delayed between 10-20 h even if gastric emptying and disintegration of the tablet have occurred.