Postprandial walking but not consumption of alcoholic digestifs or espresso accelerates gastric emptying in healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
Postprandial consumption of alcoholic beverages with high ethanol concentration (so-called digestifs) is a widespread custom to alleviate dyspeptic symptoms after comprehensive meals. Alcoholic beverages preprandially ingested inhibit gastric emptying rate of solid meals. However, the effect of a postprandial intake has never been studied in a controlled manner.


METHODS
In 10 healthy male subjects gastric emptying was repeatedly studied by ultrasonography after the intake of a 576 kcal meal. Immediately after the meal subjects received in a randomized order 40 ml of the following liquids: brandy, herb flavored liqueur, Williams pear brandy, aquavit (each 40 % (v/v) ethanol concentration), espresso, water, 40% (v/v) ethanol and 70% (w/v) glucose. Postprandial satiety, fullness and bloating were determined on a visual analogue scale every 10 minutes. On another occasion subjects received 40 ml of water and walked afterwards slowly (4 km/h) on a treadmill.


RESULTS
Gastric half emptying time (t 1/2) of the meal with water was 123 +/- 5 min, while with brandy (119 +/- 9 min), herb flavored liqueur (123 +/- 10 min), aquavit (125 +/- 9 min), Williams pear brandy (126 +/- 6 min) or espresso (125 +/- 9 min) t(1/2) it was not significantly different. Postprandial walking accelerated t(1/2) significantly (107 +/- 5 min, p=0.02). Dyspeptic symptoms were unchanged. Blood ethanol concentrations were under the level of detection (< 5 mg/dl).


CONCLUSIONS
Postprandial consumption of alcoholic digestifs did not affect gastric emptying rate of a solid meal nor postprandial dyspeptic complaints. However, postprandial walking accelerated gastric emptying of the meal but this had no effect on dyspeptic symptoms.
Franke
Andreas
A
Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), University Hospital of Heidelberg at Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3 D-68167 Mannheim, Germany.
Harder
Hermann
H
Orth
Anna K
AK
Zitzmann
Sabine
S
Singer
Manfred V
MV
D000328:Adult; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D003069:Coffee; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D012527:Satiation; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking
D003069:Coffee