[Effect of body position and food composition on esophageal motility in healthy probands]

Abstract

In this study we investigated the influence of body position and bolus consistency on esophageal motility. Esophageal motility was investigated during randomized swallowing (10 women, 10 men) of liquid (5 ml water) and solid boluses (piece of apple). Esophageal motility was altered by body position and bolus consistency: Contraction amplitude, duration, percentage of multipeaked and repetitive contraction and the resting pressure of the lower sphincter were significantly reduced and the relaxation duration of the lower sphincter was significantly prolonged in sitting as compared to supine position. With a food bolus compared to swallows of water we found significantly higher values for the contraction amplitude and the percentage of repetitive contractions, for the duration and for the percentage of multipeaked contractions at some orifices and for the relaxation duration of the lower esophageal sphincter. Propagation velocity and the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter were significantly reduced with the food as compared to the water bolus. The alterations of esophageal motility by body position and bolus consistency has to be taken into account in clinical manometry.