M. Ledeboer et al., EFFECT OF EQUIMOLAR AMOUNTS OF LONG-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES AND MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES ON SMALL-BOWEL TRANSIT-TIME IN HUMANS, JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition, 19(1), 1995, pp. 5-8
Background: The use of medium-chain triglycerides in diets is limited
by the frequent occurrence of diarrhea or crampy abdominal pain. Becau
se these symptoms may result from an accelerated transit time induced
by medium-chain triglycerides, we investigated the effect of equimolar
amounts of long-chain triglycerides and medium-chain triglycerides on
small-bower transit time in 10 healthy subjects. Methods: Small-bower
transit time was measured by the lactulose hydrogen breath test after
intraduodenal administration of lactulose. Results: Intraduodenal adm
inistration of 20 mmol of long-chain triglycerides per hour for 90 min
utes did not alter small-bowel transit time compared with control (77
+/- 11 minutes vs 77 +/- 10 minutes, respectively), whereas intraduode
nal infusion of an equimolar dose of medium-chain triglycerides signif
icantly accelerated small-bowel transit time (59 +/- 6 minutes) compar
ed with long-chain triglycerides and control (p <.05). In six individu
als, small-bower transit time was shorter during the administration of
medium-chain triglycerides compared with control, and three of these
subjects experienced abdominal symptoms. Plasma cholecystokinin levels
increased significantly (p < .05) during the administration of long-c
hain triglycerides, from 2.6 +/- 0.3 pmol/L to a maximum of 4.3 +/- 0.
6 pmol/L. No significant alterations were observed in plasma cholecyst
okinin levels during administration of medium-chain triglycerides or i
n the control experiment. Conclusions: Although it significantly incre
ases cholecystokinin secretion, the intraduodenal infusion of long-cha
in triglycerides does not affect small-bower transit time, whereas the
infusion of medium chain triglycerides accelerates small-bower transi
t time, independent of cholecystokinin.