Gastric bile acid content and concentration in asymptomatic adults

Overnight gastric aspiration was performed on 15 fasting asymptomatic adults in the erect and supine positions. The pH of the gastric aspirates was not directly related to the bile acid concentration, which ranged from 0 to 1116 mumol/l. The total bile acid content of the 12-hour aspirates varied from 0 to 122 mumol. A change in posture had no significant effect on the duodenogastric reflux of bile when subjects were fasting or when gallbladder contraction was stimulated by intravenous pancreozymin. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.