Basic study on small intestinal motility with various nutrients in supposed post-esophagectomy nutritional support

The purposes of this study were to record the small intestinal motility induced by different compositions (carbohydrate, protein, fat) of enteral nutrients and to define the effects of each composition on the motility of the small intestine in supposed postesophagectomy nutritional support. Strain-gauge force transducers were used to measure intestinal motility in rats. The change ratio of the maximum amplitude of small intestinal contractions in the fat solution (140.6 +/- 46.5%) and the protein solution (123.9 +/- 34.0%) was significantly less than in the carbohydrate solution (222.0 +/- 107.8%) in the proximal small intestine (P < 0.05). The transportation ability in the fat solution (47.9 +/- 6.4%) and in the protein solution (36.5 +/- 4.9%) was less than in the carbohydrate solution (54.1 +/- 9.2%). Especially in the protein solution, the transportation ability was significantly less than in the carbohydrate solution (P < 0.05). The carbohydrate solution increased small intestinal motility the most. In terms of postoperative nutritional support for patients undergoing an esophagectomy, the above findings indicate that an enteral diet composed of more protein and fat might be appropriate for patients with accelerated small intestinal motility; on the contrary, a carbohydrate-rich diet should be used for patients with decreased small intestinal motility.