Gastrointestinal adsorptive effect

The gastrointestinal adsorptive effect describes the mechanism by which certain orally-administered materials (enterosorbents) bind and sequester substances—such as bacterial toxins, bile acids, and sometimes drugs—in the gut, preventing their absorption into the body and promoting their excretion. This effect is non-systemic: the adsorbent agents do not cross the intestinal barrier themselves and are excreted unchanged. The effect is exploited therapeutically in acute poisoning (e.g., activated charcoal), chronic diarrhea, IBS-D, and management of endogenous or exogenous gut-derived toxins. This is not a property of a molecular target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter, but rather of the material’s physical-chemical interaction with gut luminal contents. Selection of the adsorbent depends on clinical need (selectivity, safety profile, compatibility with other drugs).

Other names

EnterosorptionIntestinal adsorption effectGastrointestinal adsorption

Adsorption and sequestration of target substances (toxins, bile acids, drugs) in the GI lumen, thereby preventing their absorption into systemic circulation and facilitating excretion