| Abstract: | Carbonated water has long been advocated torelieve dyspeptic symptoms, suggesting that it may altergastric motility via gastric distension. This studyaimed to determine the effect of carbonated water on gastric emptying of a radiolabeled mixedmeal in eight healthy volunteers. Meal emptying and itsdistribution within the stomach were assessed withcarbonated and still water in a crossover study.Emptying of both solid and liquid, including theduration of the lag phase, was identical for bothdrinks. However, the proximal stomach contained agreater proportion of solids (74 ± 7% vs 56± 8%, P < 0.05) and liquids (43 ± 5% vs 27 ± 4%, P < 0.05)with carbonated water as opposed to still water.Retention of the meal within the proximal stomach endedwith the lag phase and was likely related to proximaldistension. In conclusion, carbonated water did not alter overall gastricemptying but profoundly modified intragastricdistribution of the meal. |
