Effect of Gelatinization on Gastric Emptying and Absorption

Background/Aims: For gastrointestinal functional analysis such as gastric emptying tests, either a liquid or solid meal is used as a test meal. Only a few studies have compared meal characteristics, such as liquid and solid. No previous study has compared test meals that had the same composition but different properties. The aim of this study was to compare the gastric emptying and absorption obtained by (13)C-breath test after ingestion of liquid or gelatinized liquid nutrients. Methodology: Ten healthy volunteers were studied four times, with 2-week intervals. For the test meal, 200mL of liquid meals (200kcal) and gelatinized liquid meals were used. Gelatinized liquid nutrients were prepared by mixing 6g, 12g and 18g of Natural psyllium husk with 200mL of liquid meals. Breath samples were collected for four hours. Gastric emptying were expressed as the time of peak excretion, absorption were expressed as the area under the (13)CO(2) curve up to the time of peak excretion. Results: Gastric emptying times were 54.5, 54.5, 81.7 and 93.3 min. Absorption was 20.8, 20.9, 27.8 and 29.8% dose. Conclusions: Gelatinization influences gastric emptying, but does not influence absorption. Gelatinized liquid meals may be useful for a substitute for solid meals on gastrointestinal functional analysis.