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Effect of Equimolar Amounts of Long‐Chain Triglycerides and Medium‐Chain Triglycerides on Small‐Bowel Transit Time in Humans
Author(s) -
Ledeboer M.,
Masclee A.A.M.,
Jansen J.B.M.J.,
Lamers C.B.H.W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/014860719501900105
Subject(s) - lactulose , cholecystokinin , medicine , medium chain triglyceride , transit time , gastrointestinal transit , endocrinology , diarrhea , triglyceride , gastroenterology , oral administration , chemistry , cholesterol , receptor , transport engineering , engineering
Background : The use of medium‐chain triglycerides in diets is limited by the frequent occurrence of diarrhea or crampy abdominal pain. Because these symptoms may result from an accelerated transit time induced by medium‐chain triglycerides, we investigated the effect of equimolar amounts of long‐chain triglycerides and medium‐chain triglycerides on small‐bowel transit time in 10 healthy subjects. Methods : Small‐bowel transit time was measured by the lactulose hydrogen breath test after intraduodenal administration of lactulose. Results : Intraduodenal administration of 20 mmol of long‐chain triglycerides per hour for 90 minutes did not alter small‐bowel transit time compared with control (77 ± 11 minutes vs 77 ± 10 minutes, respectively), whereas intraduodenal infusion of an equimolar dose of medium‐chain triglycerides significantly accelerated small‐bowel transit time (59 ± 6 minutes) compared with long‐chain triglycerides and control (p <.05). In six individuals, small‐bowel transit time was shorter during the administration of medium‐chain triglycerides compared with control, and three of these subjects experienced abdominal symptoms. Plasma cholecystokinin levels increased significantly ( p <.05) during the administration of long‐chain triglycerides, from 2.6 ± 0.3 pmol/L to a maximum of 4.3 ± 0.6 pmol/L. No significant alterations were observed in plasma cholecystokinin levels during administration of medium‐chain triglycerides or in the control experiment. Conclusions : Although it significantly increases cholecystokinin secretion, the intraduodenal infusion of long‐chain triglycerides does not affect small‐bowel transit time, whereas the infusion of medium‐chain triglycerides accelerates small‐bowel transit time, independent of cholecystokinin. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 19 :5–8, 1995)