Gastric emptying after pickle-juice ingestion in rested, euhydrated humans.
BACKGROUND
Small volumes of pickle juice (PJ) relieve muscle cramps within 85 seconds of ingestion without significantly affecting plasma variables. This effect may be neurologic rather than metabolic. Understanding PJ's gastric emptying would help to strengthen this theory.


OBJECTIVE
To compare gastric emptying and plasma variables after PJ and deionized water (DIW) ingestion.


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
Ten men (age  =  25.4 ± 0.7 years, height  =  177.1 ± 1.6 cm, mass  =  78.1 ± 3.6 kg).


METHODS
Rested, euhydrated, and eunatremic participants ingested 7 mL·kg⁻¹ body mass of PJ or DIW on separate days.


METHODS
Gastric volume was measured at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes postingestion (using the phenol red dilution technique). Percentage changes in plasma volume and plasma sodium concentration were measured preingestion (-45 minutes) and at 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes postingestion.


RESULTS
Initial gastric volume was 624.5 ± 27.4 mL for PJ and 659.5 ± 43.8 mL for DIW (P > .05). Both fluids began to empty within the first 5 minutes (volume emptied: PJ  =  219.2 ± 39.1 mL, DIW  =  305.0 ± 40.5 mL, P < .05). Participants who ingested PJ did not empty further after the first 5 minutes (P > .05), whereas in those who ingested DIW, gastric volume decreased to 111.6 ± 39.9 mL by 30 minutes (P < .05). The DIW group emptied faster than the PJ group between 20 and 30 minutes postingestion (P < .05). Within 5 minutes of PJ ingestion, plasma volume decreased 4.8% ± 1.6%, whereas plasma sodium concentration increased 1.6 ± 0.5 mmol·L⁻¹ (P < .05). Similar changes occurred after DIW ingestion. Calculated plasma sodium content was unchanged for both fluids (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The initial decrease in gastric volume with both fluids is likely attributable to gastric distension. Failure of the PJ group to empty afterward is likely due to PJ's osmolality and acidity. Cardiovascular reflexes resulting from gastric distension are likely responsible for the plasma volume shift and rise in plasma sodium concentration despite nonsignificant changes in plasma sodium content. These data support our theory that PJ does not relieve cramps via a metabolic mechanism.
Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108- 6050, USA. kevin.c.miller@ndsu.edu
Kevin C
KC
Miller
Gary W
GW
Mack
Kenneth L
KL
Knight
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018553:Cucumis sativus; D003681:Dehydration; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology
D002241:Carbohydrates; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D012964:Sodium; D019342:Acetic Acid