Effects of body positions on gastric emptying with enteral nutrition: a crossover study using a continuous real time 13C breath test (BreathID system)

The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a correlation between body positions and gastric emptying, using a novel non-invasive technique for measuring gastric emptying with a continuous real time 13C breath test (BreathID system).

Ten healthy male volunteers participated in this randomized, two-way crossover study. On both occasions, the 13C breath test was performed for 4 hours using the BreathID system with a liquid meal (200 kcal per 200 mL) containing 100 mg 13C-acetic acid. Subjects were randomly assigned to sit comfortable (the sitting position) or to lie supine (the lying position).

In the lying position, T 1/2 and T lag were significantly delayed. The gastric emptying coefficient was also decreased in lying position.

This study showed that gastric emptying following a liquid meal was significantly delayed in the lying position compared to the sitting position, suggesting the potential use of these findings in the clinical setting for patients receiving enteral nutrition via the stomach.