title: New frontiers in gut nutrient sensor research: monosodium L-glutamate added to a high-energy, high-protein liquid diet promotes gastric emptying: a possible therapy for patients with functional dyspepsia.
abstract: Functional dyspepsia is a clinical syndrome that features abdominal symptoms centered in the upper abdomen without an organic basis. Three possible mechanisms of gastric dysfunction could be related to functional dyspepsia: 1) delayed gastric emptying, 2) impaired gastric accommodation to food intake, and 3) hypersensitivity to gastric distention. Delayed gastric emptying has been suggested to lead to prolonged antral distension that causes dyspeptic symptoms. Delayed gastric emptying is therefore a focal point of debate about anorexia caused by dyspepsia, and prokinetic agents are often administered in Japan for its treatment. Recently, we found that addition of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) to a high-energy liquid diet rich in casein promoted gastric emptying in healthy men. Therefore, another potential method to improve delayed gastric emptying could be enhancement of chemosensors that activate the autonomic nervous system innervating the gastrointestinal tract. In conclusion, enrichment with glutamate promoted gastric emptying after intake of a high-protein meal, suggesting that free glutamate is important for protein digestion and that MSG may be helpful for management of delayed gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery, Gunma University Hospital, Japan. mkusano@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zai
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimoyama
authors.forename: Atsuto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagoshi
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Masatomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012970:Sodium Glutamate