Gastric dysrhythmias and transient sleep impairment in healthy subjects

Studies have shown that impaired sleep quality is associated with exacerbation of gastrointestinal problems. The aim of this study was to measure gastric myoelectrical activity and visceral perception to fullness before and after a water load in healthy volunteers with or without transient sleep impairment. Twenty-eight male subjects (mean age, 39.3 years; range, 14-58 years) were studied. The subjective sleep quality was measured by visual analogue scale (bad [0] to very good [100]. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded and analyzed before and after the subjects ingested water until full. Subjects were stratified into two groups, i.e., with impaired sleep quality (Group A [Gr-A]; n = 15; mean age, 35.1 years) and with fine sleep quality (Group B [Gr-B]; n = 13; mean age, 40.7 years). Gr-A subjects ingested less water (514 +/- 21 ml) compared to the Gr-B subjects (621 +/- 50 ml: P < 0.05). After ingestion of the water load, Gr-A had significantly less 2.5- to 3.75-cpm activity (28.0 +/- 4%) by 21-30 min and more tachygastric activity (28 +/- 2 and 30 +/- 4%) by 11-30 min compared with Gr-B (43 +/- 5, 20 +/- 2, and 18 +/- 2%, respectively; P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between sleep quality and the percentage of power in the normal range by 21-30 min after the water load (r = 0.5, P < 0.01). In contrast, a negative correlation was observed between sleep quality and tachygastric activity by 11-20 min (r = -0.4, P < 0.05) and 21-30 min (r = -0.4, P < 0.05) after ingestion of water. Transient sleep impairment is associated with increases in gastric dysrhythmia and altered perception to gastric distension in response to the water load. The study provides a potential clue that transient sleep impairment might influence gastric myoelectrical functioning in healthy individuals.