Effect of ethanol upon gastric emptying

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Human Physiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Gastric emptying is influenced by meal composition, including osmolality and energy density.
• Ethanol's effect on gastric emptying is not fully understood, particularly in relation to energy content.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of ethanol on gastric emptying rates in healthy human subjects.
• To compare the effects of ethanol versus dextrose on gastric emptying when meal osmolality and energy density are controlled.

Main Methods:

• Three standardized 750 ml meals with similar osmolalities, energy densities, and pH were administered to healthy subjects.
• Gastric emptying rates were measured, along with serial measurements of gastric pH and bile acid concentrations.

Main Results:

• Ethanol-containing meals (80 ml and 40 ml) emptied significantly faster than a dextrose-only meal (126.6 g).
• The slower emptying of the dextrose meal was not attributed to increased gastric secretion or duodenogastric reflux.
• Gastric pH was higher with the dextrose meal, and bile acid concentrations were similar across all meals.

Conclusions:

• The duodenal osmoreceptor mechanism appears relatively insensitive to ethanol.
• The typical relationship between energy density and gastric emptying rate does not apply to ethanol.
• Ethanol-induced gastro-oesophageal reflux is not caused by impaired gastric emptying.