Effects of Ricinoleic Acid (Castor Oil) on Gut Permeability in Healthy Participants: Provocative Test for Treatments Aimed at Restoring Barrier Function

• Published in: Clinical and translational gastroenterology Vol. 16; no. 7; p. e00865
• Main Authors: Yang, David Yi, Lupianez-Merly, Camille, Jencks, Kara J, Dilmaghani, Saam, Busciglio, Irene, Eckert, Deborah, Ryks, Michael, Dyer, Roy, Vizenor, Brady A., Zhao, Yuxi, Sapone, Anna, Rooks, Michelle G., Gale, Jeremy D., Camilleri, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Wolters Kluwer 01.07.2025; Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Acids; Administration, Oral; Adult; Anti-inflammatory agents; Body mass index; Brief Report; Castor Oil - administration & dosage; Castor Oil - adverse effects; Castor Oil - pharmacology; Colon; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug dosages; Editing; Female; Gastroenterology; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Intestinal Absorption - drug effects; Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Lactulose - urine; Male; Mannitol - urine; Middle Aged; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Permeability; Permeability - drug effects; Pilot Projects; Ricinoleic Acids - administration & dosage; Ricinoleic Acids - pharmacology; Statistical analysis; Statistical power; Stomach; Young Adult; leaky gut; intestinal permeability; castor oil
• ISSN: 2155-384X; 2155-384X
• DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000865

INTRODUCTION:Altered intestinal permeability (IP) is implicated in multiple gastrointestinal and systemic disease conditions; an experimental model of perturbed IP in healthy subjects is needed. Traditional approaches to perturbing IP include use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.METHODS:We conducted a single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of dose-related effects of castor oil (CO) (and its ingredient ricinoleic acid) at 750, 1,500, or 3,000 mg daily doses on IP. Permeability was assessed using validated 13C-mannitol and lactulose urine excretion at 0-2, 8-24, and 0-24 hours after oral administration.RESULTS:Permeability analysis across all groups demonstrated significant difference among the groups for 0-2 hours 13C-mannitol, 0-24 hours 13C-mannitol, and borderline significant difference for 2-8 hours 13C-mannitol (P = 0.060) and 0-24 hours lactulose (P = 0.056). Direct comparison of 3,000 mg CO vs placebo (t test) demonstrated higher excretion of 13C-mannitol and lactulose at 0-2, and 0-24 hours, and lactulose at 2-8 hours.DISCUSSION:CO may perturb small intestinal and colonic permeability in healthy adults.