Gastric emptying of solid and liquid meals in healthy controls compared with long-term type-1 diabetes mellitus under optimal glucose control.
BACKGROUND
Neuropathy of the enteric nervous system and hyperglycaemia are regarded as the main causes of diabetic gastroparesis.


METHODS
In ten patients with Type-1 diabetes mellitus and sensomotoric neuropathy gastric emptying half times were compared with ten healthy controls by employing the 13C-octanoic acid and the 13C-sodiumacetate breath test, resp., following the intake of equally composed and isocaloric liquid and solid meals. Plasma glucose concentrations were controlled by permanent intravenous administration of insulin.


RESULTS
In diabetes mellitus gastric emptying half times after the intake of the liquid meal (p < 0.05) but not after ingestion of the solid meal were slightly prolonged. Gastric emptying half times in patients and controls were not different when liquid and solid meals were compared.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute hyperglycaemia appears to be more important than the neuropathy of the enteric nervous system in the pathophysiology of diabetic gastroparesis. The rate of gastric emptying is obviously not dependent on the phase of a meal, but rather on the composition and the caloric content.
Folwaczny
C
C
City Department of Gastroenterology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. Christian.Folwaczny@medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de
Wawarta
R
R
Otto
B
B
Friedrich
S
S
Landgraf
R
R
Riepl
R L
RL
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose