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Magnesium chloride slows gastric emptying, but does not affect digestive functions
K P Geboes1, B Maes, A Luypaerts
1Departments of Gastroenterology Leuven, Belgium. Karen.Geboes@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|August 17, 2002
Summary
Magnesium chloride slows gastric emptying, impacting how the body processes fats and proteins. However, it does not directly affect lipid digestion or assimilation, suggesting other mechanisms for observed lipid level changes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolic Research
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Established inverse relationship between serum magnesium and serum lipid levels.
- Investigated magnesium's role in intraluminal lipid digestion and metabolism.
- Examined magnesium chloride's effect on protein digestion and gastric emptying.
Purpose of the Study:
- Test the hypothesis that magnesium inhibits intraluminal lipid digestion.
- Determine magnesium chloride's influence on lipid and protein digestion rates.
- Assess the impact of magnesium on gastric emptying.
Main Methods:
- Utilized breath tests in healthy volunteers to measure gastric emptying, lipid, and protein digestion.
- Administered 800 mg of magnesium chloride dissolved in water.
- Analyzed 13CO2 and 14CO2 enrichment in breath samples at regular intervals.
Main Results:
- Magnesium chloride administration diminished intraluminal lipid and protein digestion rates.
- A significant decrease in gastric emptying rate was observed after magnesium chloride intake.
- No differences in lipid or protein digestion were noted after correcting for gastric emptying.
Conclusions:
- Magnesium chloride significantly slows gastric emptying.
- Magnesium chloride does not influence intraluminal lipid or protein digestion.
- Altered lipid assimilation is unlikely to explain lower lipid levels after magnesium supplementation.