Solid composition for the oral administration of dyes and diagnostic use thereof

1. A solid composition for oral administration containing at least one dye in association with at least one physiologically acceptable excipient, said composition comprising:

(a) at least one dye selected from among methylene blue, congo red, carmine indigo, toluidine blue or mixtures thereof;

(b) a first matrix in which said at least one dye is incorporated, wherein said first matrix comprises at least one lipophilic compound having a melting point below 90° C. and at least one amphiphilic compound, wherein said at least one amphiphilic compound is selected from among polar lipids of type I or II, ceramides, glycol alkyl ethers, or alkyl sulfosuccinate salts and wherein said polar lipids of type I or II are selected from among lecithin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine or mixtures thereof, and said glycol alkyl ether is diethylene glycol monomethyl ether;

(c) a second matrix comprising at least one hydrophilic compound, wherein the first matrix is dispersed in the second matrix;

(d) optionally other physiologically acceptable excipients; and

(e) optionally a gastro-resistant coating.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount ranging between 10 mg and 1500 mg or in an amount ranging between 50 mg and 1200 mg.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount ranging between 2 mg and 1000 mg or in an amount ranging between 10 mg and 500 mg.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount ranging between 20 mg and 500 mg or in an amount ranging between 25 mg and 400 mg.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount equivalent to about 25 mg or in an amount equivalent to about 50 mg or in an amount equivalent to about 200 mg.

6. The composition of claim 1 , in form of a tablet or a capsule.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one lipophilic compound is selected from among saturated, unsaturated or hydrogenated long chain alcohols, saturated, unsaturated or hydrogenated fatty acids, salts thereof, esters or amides, mono-, di- or triglycerides of fatty acids, waxes, ceramides, or cholesterol.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one hydrophilic compound is a compound forming hydrogel.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said solid composition comprises a gastro-resistant coating and wherein the gastro-resistant coating is selected from among polymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid, copolymers of the acrylic or methacrylic acid, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxybutyrate-based polymers, shellac or mixtures thereof.

10. A method of colouring the small intestine and/or the large intestine in a subject undergoing an endoscopic diagnostic evaluation of pathologies of the small intestine and/or the large intestine, said method comprises administering to the subject at least one solid composition of claim 1 in an amount effective for colouring the small intestine and/or the large intestine within a 24 hour period preceding the endoscopic diagnostic evaluation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said administration is carried out once or repeatedly.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pathologies are inflammatory, ulcerative, dysplastic, pre-neoplastic or neoplastic pathologies.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pathologies are cancerous or precancerous forms, polyps, pseudopolyps or different inflammatory pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount ranging between 10 mg and 1500 mg or in an amount ranging between 50 mg and 1200 mg.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount ranging between 2 mg and 1000 mg or in an amount ranging between 10 mg and 500 mg.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount ranging between 20 mg and 500 mg or in an amount ranging between 25 mg and 400 mg.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein said at least one dye is comprised in an amount equivalent to about 25 mg or in an amount equivalent to about 50 mg or in an amount equivalent to about 200 mg.

18. The composition of claim 8 , wherein said at least one compound forming hydrogel is selected from among polymers or copolymers of the acrylic or methacrylic acid, alkyl vinyl polymers, alkyl celluloses, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, carboxyalkyl celluloses, modified celluloses, plurisubstituted celluloses, polysaccharides, dextrins, pectins, starches, complex starches, starch glycolate, alginic acid, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or polyalcohol.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein said administration is fractionated into two or more uptakes within said 24 hour period.