Effect of triglyceride on small intestinal absorption of cefoxitin in rats.

Coadministration of trilaurin or monolaurin with sodium cefoxitin increased its absorption from the small intestine of the rat. Its absorption from the rectum was effected to a lesser extent except when lipase was present. Lipase, a natural constituent of the small intestine fluid, may therefore be essential for the adjuvant action of trilaurin on cefoxitin absorption across the intestinal membrane. Among the triglycerides used, trilaurin and tricaprin were the most effective enhancers of cefoxitin absorption. Both the rate of degradation of triglyceride to its fatty acid component and subsequently the rate of fatty acid absorption were factors influencing the enhancing action. Maintenance of fatty acid concentration at the small intestinal absorption site was shown to be necessary to obtain a cefoxitin bioavailability of up to 70%.