Effect of Erythromycin on Orocecal Transit Time in Normal Healthy Male Subjects: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of erythromycin on orocecal transit time (OCTT) in 17 healthy male subjects in a double-blind, placebo controlled crossover trial.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After an overnight fast, each subject received 250 mg erythromycin base, 500 mg erythromycin base or placebo on three different days. A standardized breakfast meal plus 20 g lactulose was administered 30 mins after ingestion of the test dose. Exhaled breath was collected and hydrogen concentration was assessed over 4 h. Hydrogen concentrations over time for each session were analyzed by a generalized logistic function generating a sigmoidal curve. The ‘front’ transit time (T₁) was taken as the time when a sustained rise in breath hydrogen concentration was first observed. The midpoint from baseline to peak hydrogen concentration was denoted T₂ and represented the time when approximately half of the test meal had reached the cecum.RESULTS: There was no effect of erythromycin on OCTT. The T₁ (mean ± SEM) was 103.2±11.2, 103.3± 15.3 and 70.9±15.9 mins for placebo, 250 mg erythromycin base and 500 mg erythromycin base, respectively (P>0.05). Similarly, the T₂ was 113.3±11.3, 113.9± 16.5 and 99.3±15.3 mins for the three regimens.CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of erythromycin does not alter OCTT in healthy male subjects.