Gastric electrical stimulation using endoscopically placed mucosal electrodes reduces food intake in humans.
BACKGROUND
Implantable gastric stimulation (IGS) has been proposed for treating obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temporary mucosal electrical stimulation on water and food intake as well as gastric emptying in healthy humans.


METHODS
The study was designed to study the effects of temporary gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on symptoms, gastric accommodation, food intake, and gastric emptying. It was performed in 12 healthy volunteers on 3 consecutive days. GES was performed using mucosal electrodes endoscopically placed in the fundus.


RESULTS
The amount of maximum water intake was reduced with GES (894 +/- 326 mL) compared with sham-GES (1,093 +/- 417 mL, p = 0.01). The food intake was also reduced with GES (p = 0.012). In comparison with sham stimulation, GES delayed gastric emptying during the first 45 min after the meal but not during the remaining time. GES with parameters effective in reducing water and food intake and delaying gastric emptying did not induce significant dyspeptic symptoms, compared with sham stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
GES using temporary mucosal electrodes decreases food intake as well as maximum intake of water, and has a tendency of delaying gastric emptying. It may have a potential application for the treatment of obesity.
Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan, Republic of China.
Jun
J
Liu
Xiaohua
X
Hou
Gengqing
G
Song
Hui
H
Cha
Bin
B
Yang
Jiande D Z
JD
Chen
D000328:Adult; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D015431:Weight Loss