Z Gastroenterol 2005; 43 - 52
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-869699

Effect on dietary fat to the gastric emptying in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

A Illés 1, S Undi 1, C Csizmadia 1, L Nagy 1, Á Király 1
  • 13rd Dept of Medicine, Pécs

Background: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) was proved to be an important etiologic factor in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the dietary fat intake on gastric emptying in symptomatic GERD patient and healthy volunteers.

Methods: 35 patients (19 males, 16 females, mean age: 42yrs, range: 19–75yrs) were measured with 24 hrs esophageal pH-metry (Medtronic-Synetics, Digitrapper Mark 4) and simultaneously solid state gastric emptying (Infra Red Isotope Analyser, Wagner Analysen Technik, Germany). A test food containing standardized amount of carbohydrate, fat, protein with 91mg 13C-octanoic acid or extra fat (standard+30g) test meal was ingested. Gastric emptying coefficiens (GEC) was calculated as follows GEC normal >3.1 delayed 3.1–2.5 strongly delayed <2.5. 1

Results:

Standard meal GEC

+30g fat meal GEC

Healthy volunteersN=15

3.66

3.2

NS vs. basal

Symptomatic GERDPositive pH-scoreN=12

3.9

2.45**

P<0.05 vs. basal

Symptomatic GERDNormal pH-scoreN=8

2.7**

2.7

NS vs. basal

** p<0.05 vs. healthy volunteers

Conclusion: Ingestion of fat rich test meal tends to decrease gastric emptying in healthy volunteers. GERD patient with acid reflux showed a strong inhibition of gastric emptying after fat ingestion. GERD patient with normal pH-score showed delayed gastric emptying that was not further decreased by extra fat.

1 Ghoos et al. Gastroenterology 1993, 104:1640–1647

Grant support ETT 550/2002