title: Effect of acute peppermint oil administration on gastric sensorimotor function and nutrient tolerance in health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menthol reduces intestinal motility in animal studies, an effect that is probably mediated by transient receptor potential channels. Peppermint oil (PO), with menthol as a major constituent, is widely used as a spasmolytic agent in irritable bowel syndrome. In the current study, we investigated the effect of acute PO administration on intragastric pressure (IGP) profiles and gastric sensorimotor functions in health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers underwent IGP measurement before and during continuous intragastric infusion of a nutrient drink (n = 13), and gastric barostat studies (n = 13). A single capsule of PO (182 mg) or placebo was administered during the studies in a randomized controlled crossover design. Throughout the studies, healthy volunteers scored 11 epigastric symptoms on a visual analogue scale (VAS); satiation was scored on a 6-point Likert scale during intragastric infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During fasting, IGP and motility index (MI) of the proximal stomach decreased significantly after PO administration compared with placebo (P < 0.0001 and <0.05, respectively). In contrast, during intragastric infusion of the nutrient drink, no significant differences were detected between PO and placebo in IGP profiles, MI, satiation scores, and epigastric symptoms. The maximum infused volume, gastric compliance or sensitivity to balloon distention did not differ between both treatment arms. However, reduced appetite scores were seen during fasting after PO treatment, as compared with placebo (P = 0.01). Postprandial VAS scores were similar between PO and placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peppermint oil reduces IGP, proximal phasic contractility, and appetite, with negligible effects on gastric sensitivity, tone, accommodation, and nutrient tolerance in health.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Gastroenterology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papathanasopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boesmans
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanden Berghe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036142:Mentha piperita; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; C015424:peppermint oil