A Randomized, Open-Label, Single-Dose, Crossover Study of the Comparative Bioavailability of EPA and DHA in a Novel Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticle-Based Formulation of ω-3 Acid Ethyl Ester Versus Omacor® Soft Capsule among Healthy Adults.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are well known for their capacity to lower triglyceride levels, but the clinical effectiveness is hindered by limited bioavailability and patient adherence. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel liquid crystalline nanoparticle-based formulation, the innovative medicine and drug delivery (IMD)-Omega soft capsule (cap), designed to optimize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of EPA and DHA. This randomized, open-label, crossover study engages a cohort of 24 healthy adult subjects, utilizing key PK parameters like Cmax, AUC, Tmax, t½, and Ke to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. The trial compares the performance of the IMD-Omega soft cap with the well-established Omacor® soft cap. The IMD-Omega soft cap exhibited an impressive 110% increase in bioavailability for EPA and a remarkable 134% surge for DHA in comparison to the Omacor® soft cap over a span of 72 h. The key success can be attributed to the innovative liquid crystalline nanoparticle design, bolstering the dissolution and permeability of these essential fatty acids. Intriguingly, intra-participant variability for AUC0-72 h and Cmax were calculated at 45.04% and 34.26%, respectively. It is noteworthy that the parameters of Tmax for EPA (≈6.00 h) and DHA (≈5.00 h), t½ for both EPA and DHA ≈ 30-40 h, and Kel around 0.18-0.22 h-1 for EPA and ≈0.008-0.02 h-1 for DHA, displayed comparability between the IMD-Omega and Omacor® formulations. Encouragingly, the IMD-Omega soft cap showed excellent tolerability. The promise of optimized patient compliance and reduced dosages adds further weight to its potential significance.

Long-term administration of Sopungsungi-won (SP) prevents diabetic nephropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

We investigated the long term effects of Sopungsungi-won (SP), a Korean traditional formula used for senile constipation and diabetes mellitus, on the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. ZDF rats were fed regular laboratory chow mixed with SP or rosiglitazone (RSG) for an 8-week period. Kidney hypertrophy was developed with increasing plasma glucose level, and glomerular hypertrophy was improved by 22% and 45% in SP- and RSG-treated rats, respectively. Urinary glucose and albumin excretions were also significantly lower in SP-treated rats than in ZDF control rats. Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta1)-fibronectin pathway in kidney, responsible for glomerular dysfunction, was markedly blunted by SP treatment in a dose dependent manner. Our findings, for the first time, provide strong evidence that long-term administration of SP formula prevents the development and progression of DN in ZDF rats. Human trials are needed to confirm these experimental results.