Calcitriol 0.25 mcg, Calcium Citrate 500 mg, DHA 120 mg, EPA 180 mg, L-Methyl Folate 1 mg, Lycopene (6%) 10000 mcg, Magnesium Sulphate 50 mg, Methylcobalamin 1500 mcg, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate 0.5 mg, Vitamin K2-7 45 mcg Softgel capsules

The mechanism of action of omega-3-acid ethyl esters is not completely understood. Potential mechanisms of action include inhibition of acyl-CoA:1,2-diacylglycerol acyltransferase, increased mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation in the liver, decreased lipogenesis in the liver, and increased plasma lipoprotein lipase activity. Omega-3-acid ethyl esters may reduce the synthesis of TG in the liver because EPA and DHA are poor substrates for the enzymes responsible for TG synthesis, and EPA and DHA inhibit esterification of other fatty acids.

Absorption — In healthy volunteers and in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia, EPA and DHA were absorbed when administered as ethyl esters orally. Omega-3-acids administered as ethyl esters induced significant dose-dependent increases in serum phospholipid EPA content, though increases in DHA content were less marked and not dose-dependent when administered as ethyl esters.

Specific Populations — Age: Uptake of EPA and DHA into serum phospholipids in subjects treated with omega-3-acid ethyl esters was independent of age (younger than 49 years versus 49 years and older).

Male and Female Patients: Females tended to have more uptake of EPA into serum phospholipids than males. The clinical significance of this is unknown.

Pediatric Patients: Pharmacokinetics of omega-3-acid ethyl esters have not been studied.

Patients with Renal or Hepatic Impairment: Omega-3-acid ethyl esters has not been studied in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.

Drug Interaction Studies — Simvastatin: In a 14-day trial of 24 healthy adult subjects, daily coadministration of simvastatin 80 mg with omega-3-acid ethyl esters 4 grams did not affect the extent (AUC) or rate (Cmax) of exposure to simvastatin or the major active metabolite, beta-hydroxy simvastatin, at steady state.

Atorvastatin: In a 14-day trial of 50 healthy adult subjects, daily coadministration of atorvastatin 80 mg with omega-3-acid ethyl esters 4 grams did not affect AUC or Cmax of exposure to atorvastatin, 2-hydroxyatorvastatin, or 4-hydroxyatorvastatin at steady state.

Rosuvastatin: In a 14-day trial of 48 healthy adult subjects, daily coadministration of rosuvastatin 40 mg with omega-3-acid ethyl esters 4 grams did not affect AUC or Cmax of exposure to rosuvastatin at steady state.

In vitro studies using human liver microsomes indicated that clinically significant cytochrome P450-mediated inhibition by EPA/DHA combinations are not expected in humans.

Vitamin B12 supplies cofactors for methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. These reactions support methionine formation and conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. B12 is involved in DNA synthesis, red-cell formation and nervous-system function.

Free B12 combines with intrinsic factor and is taken up in the distal ileum. Absorption becomes less efficient as the dose exceeds intrinsic-factor capacity; the NIH review reports about 2% absorption at 500 micrograms and 1.3% at 1,000 micrograms. Cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are converted into active cobalamin forms. These are oral nutrient data, not injectable-product pharmacokinetics.

Pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate are active vitamin B6 coenzymes involved in amino-acid metabolism. B6 also contributes to neurotransmitter synthesis, glycogen metabolism and hemoglobin formation.

Vitamin B6 is absorbed in the jejunum. Phosphorylated forms are dephosphorylated before free B6 enters by passive diffusion. The NIH review describes similar absorption from foods and supplements; much of a large pharmacological dose is rapidly eliminated in urine. This physiology does not supply a measured half-life for this formulation.

Folate coenzymes transfer single-carbon units during DNA and RNA synthesis and amino-acid metabolism. Folate-dependent reactions include homocysteine conversion to methionine and thymidylate formation required for cell division.

Food folates are converted to monoglutamates before intestinal absorption. Folic acid undergoes reduction and conversion to active folate forms; 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is the main plasma form. Supplemental folic acid has estimated bioavailability of about 85% with food and nearly 100% fasting. These percentages should not be transferred to a different folate form or fixed combination.

Calcium provides the mineral structure of bone and teeth. Ionized calcium also participates in muscle contraction, nerve signaling, blood coagulation and hormone secretion.

Intestinal uptake occurs by vitamin-D-dependent active transport and passive diffusion. The absorbed fraction depends on intake and formulation. Calcium carbonate is more dependent on gastric acid than calcium citrate. Most body calcium is held in the skeleton, which is continually remodeled and acts as a reservoir. These nutrient data do not establish this product's bioavailability.

Vitamin K acts as a coenzyme for vitamin-K-dependent carboxylation needed to produce functional proteins in coagulation and bone metabolism. Phylloquinone and menaquinones are members of this vitamin family.

Ingested vitamin K is incorporated into intestinal micelles, absorbed by enterocytes and transported in chylomicrons through lymph to the liver. Circulating vitamin K is mainly carried in lipoproteins. It is metabolized and eliminated relatively rapidly; values measured for phylloquinone should not be assigned to a menaquinone formulation.

Magnesium supports numerous enzyme systems in energy metabolism, protein synthesis and nucleic-acid synthesis. It also participates in ion transport needed for nerve and muscle function.

The NIH review estimates that about 30–40% of dietary magnesium is usually absorbed. Supplemental absorption varies with the compound and its solubility. Most body magnesium is in bone or soft tissue; the kidneys regulate balance by changing urinary excretion. These oral nutrient data are not injectable-magnesium pharmacokinetics.

Man's natural supply of vitamin D depends mainly on exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun for conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 must be metabolically activated in the liver and the kidney before it is fully active as a regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism at target tissues. The initial transformation of vitamin D3 is catalyzed by a vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase enzyme (25-OHase) present in the liver, and the product of this reaction is 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH)D3]. Hydroxylation of 25-(OH)D3 occurs in the mitochondria of kidney tissue, activated by the renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1 alpha-hydroxylase (alpha-OHase), to produce 1,25-(OH)2D3 (calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D3. Endogenous synthesis and catabolism of calcitriol, as well as physiological control mechanisms affecting these processes, play a critical role regulating the serum level of calcitriol. Physiological daily production is normally 0.5 to 1.0 mcg and is somewhat higher during periods of increased bone synthesis (e.g., growth or pregnancy).

Pharmacodynamics — The two known sites of action of calcitriol are intestine and bone. A calcitriol receptor-binding protein appears to exist in the mucosa of human intestine. Additional evidence suggests that calcitriol may also act on the kidney and the parathyroid glands. Calcitriol is the most active known form of vitamin D3 in stimulating intestinal calcium transport. In acutely uremic rats calcitriol has been shown to stimulate intestinal calcium absorption.

The kidneys of uremic patients cannot adequately synthesize calcitriol, the active hormone formed from precursor vitamin D. Resultant hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism are a major cause of the metabolic bone disease of renal failure. However, other bone-toxic substances which accumulate in uremia (e.g., aluminum) may also contribute.

The beneficial effect of calcitriol in renal osteodystrophy appears to result from correction of hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. It is uncertain whether calcitriol produces other independent beneficial effects. Calcitriol is not associated with an accelerated rate of renal function deterioration. No radiographic evidence of extraskeletal calcification has been found in predialysis patients following treatment. The duration of pharmacologic activity of a single dose of calcitriol is about 3 to 5 days.

Absorption — Calcitriol is rapidly absorbed from the intestine. Peak serum concentrations (above basal values) were reached within 3 to 6 hours following oral administration of single doses of 0.25 to 1.0 mcg of calcitriol. Following a single oral dose of 0.5 mcg, mean serum concentrations of calcitriol rose from a baseline value of 40.0±4.4 (SD) pg/mL to 60.0±4.4 pg/mL at 2 hours, and declined to 53.0±6.9 at 4 hours, 50±7.0 at 8 hours, 44±4.6 at 12 hours, and 41.5±5.1 at 24 hours.

Following multiple-dose administration, serum calcitriol levels reached steady-state within 7 days.

Distribution — Calcitriol is approximately 99.9% bound in blood. Calcitriol and other vitamin D metabolites are transported in blood, by an alpha-globulin vitamin D binding protein. There is evidence that maternal calcitriol may enter the fetal circulation. Calcitriol is transferred into human breast milk at low levels (i.e., 2.2±0.1 pg/mL).

Metabolism — In vivo and in vitro studies indicate the presence of two pathways of metabolism for calcitriol. The first pathway involves the 24-hydroxylase as the first step in catabolism of calcitriol. There is definite evidence of 24-hydroxylase activity in the kidney; this enzyme is also present in many target tissues which possess the vitamin D receptor such as the intestine. The end product of this pathway is a side chain shortened metabolite, calcitroic acid. The second pathway involves the conversion of calcitriol via the stepwise hydroxylation of carbon-26 and carbon-23, and cyclization to yield ultimately 1α, 25R(OH)2-26, 23S-lactone D3. The lactone appears to be the major metabolite circulating in humans, with mean serum concentrations of 131±17 pg/mL. In addition, several other metabolites of calcitriol have been identified: 1α, 25(OH)2-24-oxo-D3; 1α, 23,25(OH)3-24-oxo-D3; 1α, 24R,25(OH)3D3; 1α, 25S,26(OH)3D3; 1α, 25(OH)2-23-oxo-D3; 1α, 25R,26(OH)3-23-oxo-D3; 1α, (OH)24,25,26,27-tetranor-COOH-D3.

Excretion — Enterohepatic recycling and biliary excretion of calcitriol occur. The metabolites of calcitriol are excreted primarily in feces. Following intravenous administration of radiolabeled calcitriol in normal subjects, approximately 27% and 7% of the radioactivity appeared in the feces and urine, respectively, within 24 hours. When a 1 mcg oral dose of radiolabeled calcitriol was administered to normal subjects, approximately 10% of the total radioactivity appeared in urine within 24 hours. Cumulative excretion of radioactivity on the sixth day following intravenous administration of radiolabeled calcitriol averaged 16% in urine and 49% in feces. The elimination half-life of calcitriol in serum after single oral doses is about 5 to 8 hours in normal subjects.

Pediatric Pharmacokinetics — The steady-state pharmacokinetics of oral calcitriol were determined in a small group of pediatric patients (age range: 1.8 to 16 years) undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Calcitriol was administered for 2 months at an average dose of 10.2 ng/kg (SD 5.5 ng/kg). In this pediatric population, mean Cmax was 116 pmol/L, mean serum half-life was 27.4 hours, and mean clearance was 15.3 mL/hr/kg.1

Geriatric — No studies have examined the pharmacokinetics of calcitriol in geriatric patients.

Gender — Controlled studies examining the influence of gender on calcitriol have not been conducted.

Hepatic Insufficiency — Controlled studies examining the influence of hepatic disease on calcitriol have not been conducted.