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Oro‐cecal transit time: influence of a subsequent meal
Author(s) -
Priebe M. G.,
WachtersHagedoorn R. E.,
Stellaard F.,
Heiner A. M.,
Elzinga H.,
Vonk R. J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2004.01357.x
Subject(s) - meal , ingestion , postprandial , transit time , lactose , breath test , gastric emptying , medicine , gastroenterology , chemistry , food science , stomach , helicobacter pylori , transport engineering , insulin , engineering
Background Small intestinal and oro‐cecal transit time (OCTT) is determined for clinical diagnostics and research purposes. Experimental protocols used vary with respect to the inclusion of a subsequent meal during the test period. This study was conducted to elucidate whether the ingestion of a subsequent meal during the test period influences the OCTT of the test meal. Materials and methods The OCTT of a liquid test meal, measured with the lactose‐[ 13 C]ureide breath test, was compared between four groups of healthy volunteers ( n = 36) who consumed the subsequent meal at different time points. Also, the OCTT was determined twice in eight subjects; a subsequent meal was ingested after 180 min (test A) and after 360 min (test B). Results An apparently meal‐related increase in median OCTT was observed. The OCTT of the eight volunteers measured in test A (210; 210–349 median; quartiles) was significantly shorter than that found in test B (345; 300–375 min, P = 0·016). As result of the ingestion of the subsequent meal at 180 min the OCTT was shortened by 90; 64–116 min in 7/8 subjects. Conclusion These data indicate that the ingestion of a subsequent meal affects the OCTT of a liquid test meal. This phenomenon could be explained by the increased intestinal motility in response to a meal, and should be taken into account when designing protocols for measurements of the OCTT and in the interpretation of small intestinal absorption studies.