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Published on: September 18, 2014
Modulation of gastric accommodation by duodenal nutrients
Mauricio Carrasco1, Fernando Azpiroz, Juan-R Malagelada
1Digestive System Research Unit, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona 08035, Spain.
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|August 13, 2005
Summary
Intestinal nutrients trigger nutrient-specific gastric relaxation reflexes. Lipids are more potent than carbohydrates, and neither nutrient load is consciously perceived during this process.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- The stomach accommodates ingested food through a reflex relaxation.
- The role of specific intestinal nutrients in modulating this gastric accommodation reflex is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relative potency of intestinal lipids and carbohydrates in inducing gastric accommodative relaxation.
- To assess the contribution of these nutrients to conscious perception of gastric changes.
Main Methods:
- Healthy subjects received duodenal infusions of lipids and carbohydrates at varying caloric concentrations.
- Gastric relaxation was measured using a barostat, and symptom perception was assessed via a questionnaire.
- Intravenous glucagon was used to induce maximal gastric relaxation as a reference.
Main Results:
- Lipids induced a potent, dose-dependent gastric relaxation, reaching maximal effect at a low concentration (0.2 kcal/mL).
- Carbohydrates elicited weaker relaxation, significant only at high concentrations (0.8 kcal/mL).
- Neither nutrient load significantly altered conscious perception of symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Duodenal nutrient entry initiates nutrient-specific gastric relaxation reflexes via a saturable mechanism.
- The physiological process of gastric accommodation in response to intestinal nutrients is typically not consciously perceived.
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