Influence of meal weight and caloric content on gastric emptying of meals in man

This study was designed to assess the relative influence of meal weight and caloric content on gastric emptying of liquid and solid meals in man. A dual radioisotopic method which permits noninvasive and simultaneous measurement of liquid-and solid-phase emptying by external gamma camera techniques was employed. Nine healthy volunteer subjects ingested 50-,300-, and 900-g lettuce and water meals adjusted to either 68, 208, or 633 kcal with added salad oil. The following observations were made: (1) absolute emptying rates (grams of solid food emptied from the stomach per minute) increased directly and significantly with meal weight; (2) increasing meal total caloric content significantly slowed solid food gastric emptying but did not overcome the enhancing effect of meal weight; and (3) liquid emptying rates were uninfluenced by meal total kcal amount.The authors wish to express their appreciation to the Salt Lake Veterans Medical Center, Medical Research Service for their support.