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. 2019 Jan;5(1):E27-E33.
doi: 10.1055/a-0783-2170. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Gastric Emptying of Low- and High-Caloric Liquid Meals Measured Using Ultrasonography in Healthy Volunteers

Tarek Mazzawi  1   2 , Emily Bartsch  2 , Sara Benammi  2 , Rosa Maria Carrasco Ferro  2 , Ekaterina Nikitina  2 , Nancy Nimer  2 , Lara Jiménez Ortega  2 , Charles Perrotte  2 , Joäo Vitor Pithon  2 , Safira Rosalina  2 , Alexis Sharp  2 , Reza Stevano  2 , Jan Gunnar Hatlebakk  1   2 , Trygve Hausken  1   2
Affiliations

Gastric Emptying of Low- and High-Caloric Liquid Meals Measured Using Ultrasonography in Healthy Volunteers

Tarek Mazzawi et al. Ultrasound Int Open. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Delayed gastric emptying is present in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), diabetes mellitus, and neurological diseases. Diet may affect gastric emptying symptoms in patients with FD. We sought to determine the extent to which gastric emptying and symptoms of dyspepsia are influenced by caloric content in healthy subjects using ultrasonography.

Materials and methods: 32 healthy volunteers were given 2 meals with different caloric content in random order. Gastric emptying was determined using ultrasonography to measure antral area when fasting, and postprandially at intervals of 0, 10, 20, and 30 min. Dyspeptic symptoms including discomfort, nausea, and fullness were graded.

Results: The antral area following a high-caloric meal compared to a low-caloric meal was significantly increased at 0, 10, 20, and 30 min (P=0.0203,<0.0001<0.0001,<0.0001, respectively), as was the median fullness (P<0.0048, 0.0001, 0.0009, 0.0001, respectively) measured at the same time points. There was a weak correlation (r2=0.1, P<0.0001) between the antral area and subjective fullness. No differences between gastric emptying in males and females were found.

Conclusion: The caloric content of a meal influences gastric emptying. Using ultrasonography to measure the antral area helps us to assess gastric emptying and therefore to assess patients with functional dyspepsia.

Keywords: antral area; caloric meal; functional dyspepsia; gastric emptying; ultrasonography.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Representative ultrasonography image (this image was taken 10 min after a low-caloric liquid meal). Landmarks: A: liver, B: superior mesenteric vein, C: gastric antrum and D: aorta.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Antral area (cm2) following low-caloric and high-caloric liquid meals, measured at fasting and 0, 10, 20, and 30 min post-meal (error bars=standard deviation).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The differences in the changes of the antral area (cm2) following a low-caloric and a high-caloric liquid meal, measured at 0, 10, 20, and 30 min post-meal (error bars=95% confidence interval).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Median of fullness, on a scale of 0-10, between low-caloric and high-caloric liquid meals, taken at fasting and 0, 10, 20, and 30 min after a meal (error bar=interquartile range).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The relationship between subjective fullness, rated on a scale from 0 to 10, and antral area (cm2).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Antral area in females and males before and after eating a low-caloric meal measured at fasting and 0, 10, 20 and 30 min.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Antral area in females and males before and after eating a high-caloric liquid meal measured at fasting and 0, 10, 20 and 30 min.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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