Regional gastric emptying abnormalities in functional dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

To characterize proximal and distal stomach emptying in functional dyspepsia (FD) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Eighty-three patients underwent gastric emptying (GE) scintigraphy and symptom scoring for the evaluation of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and were divided into three groups: FD (n = 25), GORD (n = 20) and FD + GORD (n = 38). Total, proximal and distal gastric retention were determined scintigraphically and compared with normal controls. Delayed total GE was observed in each subgroup: FD (56%), GORD (45%) and FD + GORD (55%). Greater proximal gastric retention was observed after meal ingestion in GORD compared to FD. Greater distal gastric retention was observed in FD and FD + GORD but it was only mild in GORD. Nausea, vomiting, early satiety, distention and regurgitation were associated with proximal gastric retention whereas there was no symptom associated with distal gastric retention. Multiple regression demonstrated total gastric retention at 30 min and 1 h was positively correlated with regurgitation whereas early proximal gastric retention was positively correlated with regurgitation and negatively correlated with nausea. Selective abnormalities of proximal and distal stomach emptying were demonstrated in GORD and FD. GORD and FD symptoms were associated with proximal gastric retention suggesting that proximal stomach motor function may be important in the pathogenesis of symptoms associated with these disorders.     

Effects of chili on postprandial gastrointestinal symptoms in diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome: evidence for capsaicin-sensitive visceral nociception hypersensitivity

Abstract  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients often complain of gastrointestinal symptoms after eating chili. However, the effect of chili ingestion on gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS patients has not been characterized. To study the effect of chili-containing foods on postprandial gastrointestinal symptoms in diarrhoea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), 20 IBS-D patients underwent gastrointestinal symptoms and postprandial colonic transit evaluations after ingesting three different meals: (i) a standard meal, (ii) a spicy meal (a standard meal mixed with 2 g chili), and (iii) a standard meal with 2 g chili in capsules, in a randomized crossover fashion. Postprandial gastrointestinal symptoms were scored every 15 min for 2 h using visual analogue scales. Thirty-eight healthy volunteers were used as controls. In healthy volunteers, the spicy meals and meals with chili capsules induced only mild abdominal burning relative to the standard meals ( P  < 0.05), whereas it induced significant levels of abdominal pain and burning in IBS-D patients ( P  < 0.05). Other gastrointestinal symptoms and postprandial colonic transit after spicy meals and meals with chili capsules did not differ from standard meals in IBS-D and controls ( P  > 0.05). Diarrhoea-predominant IBS patients and controls reported similar oral burning symptoms when eating spicy meals ( P  > 0.05). Both the spicy meal and the standard meal with chili capsules led to similar severity of gastrointestinal symptoms ( P  > 0.05). Diarrhoea-predominant IBS patients exhibit gut hypersensitivity to chili. Chili ingestion produced more abdominal pain and burning in IBS-D patients than in healthy volunteers, but was associated with similar oral burning symptoms.