Fat intolerance depends on rapid gastric emptying

Patients with fat intolerance complain of early satiety, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Since these symptoms are similar to those of patients with po stgastrectomy dumping syndrome, we hypothesized that fat intolerance may be associated with early, rapid gastric emptying. Using a three-meal gastric emptying study, we compared gastric emptying in nine patients with a histor y of fat intolerance and nine normal volunteers. On three separate days, 50 0-ml radiolabeled test meals containing 0, 15, or 60 g of fat were studied. The percentages of the test meal emptied at 15 and 60 min were analyzed by repeated measures two-way ANOVA. At 15 min (p < 0.05) but not 60 min, gast ric emptying was faster in patients than normals. Gastric emptying at 15 mi n (p < 0.001) and 60 min (p < 0.001) depended on the dose of fat. We conclu de that fat intolerance is associated with early, rapid gastric emptying.