Comparative effects of three delivery systems of oral potassium on upper gastrointestinal mucosa

Abstract

SummaryForty‐five healthy volunteers were recruited into a single‐blind randomly allocated parallel group study to determine the effects on the gastric mucosa of three different oral potassium supplements — (K‐Contin ContinusR) tablets, (Napp); Slow‐K tablets, (Ciba); Micro‐K Extencaps, (A H Robins).The volunteers were gastroscoped initially and after one week of treatment with one of the potassium tablets taken in conjunction with glycopyrrolate to delay gastric emptying. Post‐treatment, seven out of 15 volunteers taking Slow‐K tablets showed erosions and two showed hyperaemia only. Of the 15 taking Micro‐K, one showed erosions and two showed hyperaemia only. None of those given K‐Contin tablets showed erosions, but four showed hyperaemia only.