title: Colonic content in health and its relation to functional gut symptoms.
abstract: Gut content may be determinant in the generation of digestive symptoms, particularly in patients with impaired gut function and hypersensitivity. Since the relation of intraluminal gas to symptoms is only partial, we hypothesized that non-gaseous component may play a decisive role.
  
  
  
  Abdominal computed tomography scans were evaluated in healthy subjects during fasting and after a meal (n = 15) and in patients with functional gut disorders during basal conditions (when they were feeling well) and during an episode of abdominal distension (n = 15). Colonic content and distribution were measured by an original analysis program.
  
  
  
  In healthy subjects both gaseous (87 ± 24 mL) and non-gaseous colonic content (714 ± 34 mL) were uniformly distributed along the colon. In the early postprandial period gas volume increased (by 46 ± 23 mL), but non-gaseous content did not, although a partial caudad displacement from the descending to the pelvic colon was observed. No differences in colonic content were detected between patients and healthy subjects. Symptoms were associated with discrete increments in gas volume. However, no consistent differences in non-gaseous content were detected in patients between asymptomatic periods and during episodes of abdominal distension.
  
  
  
  In patients with functional gut disorders, abdominal distension is not related to changes in non-gaseous colonic content. Hence, other factors, such as intestinal hypersensitivity and poor tolerance of small increases in luminal gas may be involved.
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bendezú
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burri
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cisternas
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accarino
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quiroga
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Lenguajes y Sistemas Informáticos, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monclus
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Lenguajes y Sistemas Informáticos, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Navazo
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J-R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malagelada
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azpiroz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005740:Gases
keywords: abdominal distension; colonic content; food ingestion; functional gut disorders; intestinal gas