An open-label, randomized, crossover study to evaluate the bioavailability of nanoemulsion versus conventional fat-soluble formulation of cholecalciferol in healthy participants

Nanoemulsion preparations of cholecalciferol available in the market claim to have better bioavailability than the conventional fat-soluble cholecalciferol. However, limited data are available in humans for such preparations. We, therefore, compared the relative bioavailability of two formulations of 60,000 IU cholecalciferol (nanoemulsion oral solution, water-miscible vitamin D3 [test] vs soft gelatin capsules [reference]) in healthy adult participants. In this randomized, open-label, two sequence, single-dose, two-way crossover study (CTRI/2018/05/013839), Indian participants aged 18–45 years received single dose of nanoemulsion and capsule formulations, under fasting conditions. Blood samples collected over 120 h were assessed to determine cholecalciferol concentrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters (area under the concentration-time curve up to 120 h [AUC0–120h], maximum observed drug concentration [Cmax], time to reach maximum drug concentration [Tmax], terminal half-life [T½el], and terminal elimination rate constant [Kel]) were estimated using baseline corrected data and analyzed using analysis of variance. Among the 24 eligible participants, the relative bioavailability of nanoemulsion was significantly higher than the capsules by 36% (p = 0.0001) based on AUC0–120h. Similarly, Cmax of the nanoemulsion was significantly higher by 43% (p = 0.0001) than that of the capsules. The intra-participant variability for AUC0–120h and Cmax were 23.22% and 26.51%, respectively. The Tmax, T½el, and Kel were comparable for both the formulations. No adverse effects were noted with either of the two formulations. Nanoemulsion oral solution of cholecalciferol showed a greater bioavailability compared with soft gelatin capsules, under fasting conditions, in healthy human participants.