Mathematical modeling of individual gastric emptying of pellets in the fed state

In the present work mathematical modeling of individual gastric emptying (GE) profiles of pellets in the fed state was performed. Twenty two profiles from healthy subjects obtained by gamma scintigraphy were collected by literature search. A variety of shapes were found: linear, exponential, as a series of small boluses, two phase as fast GE followed by slow GE and the opposite, and curves containing one or more intervals with no GE. The Elashoff, Siegel, and double Weibull models were fitted to each of the individual GE profiles. Additionally, the values of parameters reflecting the time when GE of pellets started were calculated on the basis of the models and were compared to the experimentally determined values. The double Weibull model was proven to be the most capable of fitting various GE patterns and could be thus implemented in biorelevant dissolution testing and in prediction of in vivo dissolution profiles.