PDF icon Download PDF
Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ultrasound Int Open 2019; 05(01): E27-E33
DOI: 10.1055/a-0783-2170
Original Article
Eigentümer und Copyright ©Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2019

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

Tarek Mazzawi
1   Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Emily Bartsch
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Sara Benammi
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Rosa Maria Carrasco Ferro
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Ekaterina Nikitina
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Nancy Nimer
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Lara Jiménez Ortega
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Charles Perrotte
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Joäo Vitor Pithon
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Safira Rosalina
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Alexis Sharp
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Reza Stevano
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Jan Gunnar Hatlebakk
1   Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
,
Trygve Hausken
1   Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
2   Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 May 2018
revised 23 September 2018

accepted 27 October 2018

Publication Date:
07 January 2019 (online)

Also available ateRefMedOne
  Permissions and Reprints
Preview

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.

Key words

antral area - caloric meal - functional dyspepsia - gastric emptying - ultrasonography