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. 2000 Feb;46(2):205–211. doi: 10.1136/gut.46.2.205

Effects of fat and carbohydrate meals on colonic motor response

S Rao 1, R Kavelock 1, J Beaty 1, K Ackerson 1, P Stumbo 1
PMCID: PMC1727817  PMID: 10644314

Abstract

BACKGROUND—Ingestion of a meal stimulates colonic motility. It is unclear whether the nutrient composition of a meal affects colonic motor response.
AIMS—To investigate and compare the effects of a predominantly fat or carbohydrate meal on colonic motility.
METHODS—In 18 healthy subjects, ambulatory colonic manometry was performed by placing a six sensor, solid state probe from the mid-transverse colon to the rectum. In a randomised, crossover design, 10 and 27 hours after probe placement, subjects received 4.18 MJ meals containing 60% calories from fat or carbohydrate sources. Preprandial and postprandial pressure activity and motor patterns were evaluated.
RESULTS—Both meals induced phasic activity with a greater area under the curve (p<0.03) in the first postprandial hour, compared with the control period. Fat induced motor activity persisted longer (p<0.05) than that of the carbohydrate meal, but the onset of motor response was slower (p<0.001). Although both meals induced more (p<0.001) propagating pressure waves, only the fat meal induced more (p<0.05) simultaneous and retrograde waves. After both meals, 50% of subjects exhibited high amplitude (more than 103 mm Hg), prolonged duration (more than 13 seconds) propagating waves. Both meals induced greater activity (p<0.05) in the transverse/descending colon than in the rectosigmoid colon.
CONCLUSIONS—Carbohydrate meals induce colonic motor response, but the effects are short lived when compared with fat meals. The prolonged, segmental, and retrograde phasic activity induced by the fat meal may delay colon transit. Thus meal composition influences colonic motor response.


Keywords: fat; carbohydrate; meals; colon motility; gastrocolonic response.

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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Typical examples of meal induced pressure waves. (A) Simultaneous pressure waves seen in P1-P6, retrograde pressure waves seen in P3-P1, and propagating pressure waves seen in P3-P6. (B) Specialised propagating pressure waves (high amplitude, prolonged duration).

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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Typical changes in colonic motor activity in the same individual, before and after ingestion of: (A) a predominantly fat meal; and (B) a predominantly carbohydrate meal. P1, transverse colon; P2, splenic flexure; P3 and P4, descending colon; P5, sigmoid colon; P6, rectum. After the fat meal, pressure waves persisted for over three hours. After the carbohydrate meal, pressure activity decreased after 2.5 hours. The proximal colonic segments (P1-P3) showed greater activity than the distal (P4-P6) colonic segments.

Figure 3  .

Figure 3  

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Effects of each meal on the area under the curve (AUC) of pressure waves. Results expressed as mean (95% confidence interval). * p<0.05 Meal versus control, † p<0.05 fat versus carbohydrate.

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