ABNORMAL DISTRIBUTION OF A FATTY LIQUID TEST MEAL WITHIN THE STOMACH OF PATIENTS WITH NONULCER DYSPEPSIA

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the distribution of a nutrient-rich meal in the stomach during emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. As gastric emptying is delayed in a number of the se patients, we hoped to gain information about fundal or antral motil ity abnormalities. Design and methods: The intragastric distribution o f a bland and a fatty liquid test meal and the rate of gastric emptyin g were investigated using scintigraphy in 30 patients with non-ulcer d yspepsia and 20 age-matched controls. The proportion of the meal in th e proximal and distal stomach was determined during the lag period (be fore the onset of emptying) and during emptying. The results were anal ysed without the identity or status of the subject being known. Result s: In control subjects, approximately three times as much of the fatty test meal was found in the proximal than in the distal stomach during the lag period and during emptying. In the group of patients with non -ulcer dyspepsia, significantly less of the fatty test meal was found in the proximal stomach during emptying and the time taken for half th e meal to empty was significantly delayed. The bland soup was more eve nly distributed in the stomach than the fatty soup and the rate of emp tying and the distribution was similar in both the control and non-ulc er dyspepsia patient groups. Conclusion: Patients with non-ulcer dyspe psia show abnormal distribution of a fatty liquid test meal during gas tric.emptying.