TUESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Two new bowel preparations may be effective prior to colonoscopy, according to two studies presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting, held from Oct. 23 to 28 in San Diego.

In one study, Ron Palmon, M.D., of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues randomly assigned 90 patients to receive either polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid or magnesium citrate. They found that the two groups were as likely to rate colon preparation as excellent or good (92 and 86 percent, respectively).

In a second study, Douglas Rex, M.D., of the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis, and colleagues randomly assigned 130 patients to receive either a new oral sulfate solution or to a large volume polyethylene glycol and electrolytes solution. They found that the rate of successful preparation was higher in the new oral sulfate solution group (98.4 versus 89.6 percent).

"Oral sulfate solution resulted in substantially reduced residual stool and fluid in most colon segments, particularly in the right colon," Rex and colleagues conclude.

The first study was supported by Salix Pharmaceuticals; several authors reported financial relationships with the company. The second study was supported by Braintree Laboratories Inc.; several researchers reported financial relationships with the company.

Abstract - Palmon
Abstract - Rex