A study on bioavailability of theophylline in rabbits as influenced by fatty diet.

The influence of fatty diet and standard diet on the bioavailability and plasma half life of conventional theophylline was studied in the rabbit. It was found that standard diet had significantly reduced the extent of oral bioavailability (AUC0-alpha) of theophylline compared to the fasting state. The fatty diet resulted in a significantly increased extent of oral bioavailability (AUC0-alpha and Cmax) and significantly decreased rate of bioavailability (tmax and t1/2a) of theophylline compared to the standard diet group. The plasma half life was unaffected by either standard diet or the fatty diet. Therefore, dietary composition should be actively considered while titrating the dose of theophylline since theophylline is a drug of narrow therapeutic range and requires close monitoring of therapeutic plasma level.