Gastric emptying of ingested solutions in man: effect of beverage glucose concentration

The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of gastric emptying of 20 g.l-1 (2G), 40 g.l-1 (4G), and 60 g.l-1 (6G) glucose solutions with that of water (W). On separate occasions in randomized order, a 600-ml test solution was instilled into the stomach of each of six healthy male volunteers. Gastric emptying was measured at 10-min intervals for 1 h by a double sampling gastric aspiration method that allowed the volume of test drink and of the gastric secretion present in the stomach to be measured at each time point. All solutions emptied rapidly and followed an exponential emptying pattern. The 20 g.l-1 glucose solution was emptied at the same rate as water. After the first 10 min of rapid emptying, 4G and 6G were emptied slower (P < 0.05) than water. 6G delivered more (P < 0.05) glucose to the small intestine than 4G, and 4G delivered more glucose than 2G. The results indicate that a 20 g.l-1 glucose solution has no effect on gastric emptying compared with water, but that after the first 10 min of rapid emptying, glucose solutions at a concentration of 40 g.l-1 or more delay gastric emptying.