Fig 1.
Consort Flow Diagram of the study.
Fig 2.
The plasma paracetamol concentration in time after administration of a low or high caloric meal containing 1 g paracetamol via a nasogastric tube.
(◆) (Panel A, low caloric meal; panel B, high caloric meal). A typical example is shown. The inserts show the uptake of paracetamol based on the plasma concentration curve (●) and the concentration of paracetamol detected in the stomach content (▲)(panel A, low caloric meal; panel B, high caloric meal).
Fig 3.
Encapsulation of paracetamol by the meal.
The meal containing paracetamol was mixed with a hydrochloric acid solution (pH 2) in a test tube to mimic the conditions in the stomach. After centrifugation two thirds of the paracetamol was retrieved in the supernatant. Extraction of the pellet with buffer (150 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) released one tenth of the paracetamol.
Fig 4.
Discrepancy in gastric emptying deduced from the paracetamol plasma data and deduced form content in the stomach, show no difference in gastric emptying between the high and low caloric meals.
The amount of paracetamol taken up after 10 min (panel A) and 240 min (panel B) calculated form the concentration time curve of paracetamol in plasma do not show a difference between the high and low caloric meals. However, the time needed for gastric emptying determinded by the paracetamol content of the stomac (panel C), show a clear difference in gastric emptying between the high and low caloric meals. * different form the low caloric value (P < 0.05)