Impact of co-administration of protonated nanostructured aluminum silicate (cholesterol absorption inhibitor) on the absorption of lipid soluble vitamins D3 and K1: an assessment of pharmacokinetic and in vitro intraluminal processing.

Protonated nanostructured aluminum silicate (NSAS) is a protonated montmorillonite clay that was shown to be effective as an inhibitor of intestinal cholesterol absorption. The effect of NSAS on the intestinal absorption of nutrients is unknown. An in vitro lipolysis model was adapted to test the intraluminal processing of vitamin D3 and K1 in the presence of various amounts of NSAS. Additionally, vitamin absorption was assessed in male Sprague-Dawley rats randomized in the following treatment groups: IV administration of 0.1 mg/kg vitamin D3 and 1 mg/kg vitamin K1, and a single-dose gavage of 1 mg/kg vitamin D3 and 5mg/kg of vitamin K1 in peanut oil with various doses of NSAS slurry, 2% NSAS-fortified diet, or 50 mg/kg stigmastanol. The solubilized fraction of vitamin D3 in the lipolysis medium was reduced from 70% to 46% upon the addition of 120 mg NSAS. In contrast, the solubilized fractions of vitamin K1 were not significantly affected. Although the NSAS-fortified diet did not significantly affect the absorbed fraction of both vitamins, NSAS slurry decreased the absorption of vitamin D3 as compared to the control. These results indicate that NSAS may be incorporated in diet to treat hypercholesterolemia; however, vitamin D3 monitoring may be required.