by Nancy Seddens

Created on: July 26, 2010

Has it happened to you yet? You take an aspirin or any other NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug) and you end up trading one pain for another. Yes, your toothache, headache, or arthritis feels better but you hardly notice because of the burning pain in your stomach.

NSAID’s are one of the most popular types of drugs because they are so versatile and in many cases can be obtained over the counter. The fact that they don’t require a prescription may lead some to believe these drugs are harmless if taken in the recommended dosage. Not true!

It may not be just a stomach ache you have to worry about. Serious gastro-intestinal problems such as ulcers or gastritis are well known side effects of NSAID’s. Close to 20,000 people a year die from the irritating affects of NSAID’s on the GI tract, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.

Enteric coating to the rescue, remember the old M&M commercials, “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand”? Well the catch phrase for enteric coating should be: dissolves in your small intestines, not in your stomach. The word enteric refers to the small intestines and in this case refers to the ability of the coating to insure the medication reaches the small intestines before the medicine is released.

 Pills and capsules that have an enteric coating are able to survive the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. The coating, comprised of cellulose polymers, is not absorbed by the body, nor does it affect it in any way except to allow the contents of the pill or capsule to enter the small intestine where the more alkaloid conditions can dissolve the coating.  

In addition to preventing NSAID’s from irritating the stomach’s lining and enteric coating also increases the bioavailability of nutritional supplements as well as making some supplements more palatable.Garlic capsules and fish oil capsules often have an enteric coating to prevent the unpleasant belching that is common if these capsules dissolve in the stomach. However, other nutritional supplements often fail to have the coating because of the added expense and the lack of FDA regulations that require proof as to the extent a supplement is absorbed.

With money, it isn’t only what you make but what you keep that is important; similarly, with vitamins it isn’t only what you take but what you body absorbs that is important. Bioavailability, or absorption, of nutrients primarily occurs in the small intestines therefore it is important when choosing vitamins to select those that have an enteric coating even though they will cost more.

Before taking any medication or supplement with an enteric coating, consider this. Cutting or breaking in half eliminates the desired effects of the coating. Crushing pills or opening capsules to make swallowing the contents easier does the same thing. In these cases all of the benefits of the enteric coating are lost.

Enteric coating can protect your stomach from irritants and allow you to get the full benefit of supplements. But only if you insure that your pills and capsules are coated and if you don’t interfere with the coating’s doing its job.  

Sources: http://backandneck.about.com/od/e/f/entericcoated.ht m

                http://www.nutritional-supplement-truths.com/vitamin -absorption.html

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