Gastric emptying of cold beverages in humans: Effect of transportable carbohydrates

Eight healthy subjects, aged 39.0 +/- 2.4 years, consumed four 6% carbohydr ate-electrolyte solutions containing either one (glucose or fructose) or tw o transportable carbohydrates in single (glucose + fructose) or bound (sucr ose) forms. Solution osmolalities ranged from 250 to 434 mOsm/kg H2O. The t est solutions were ingested at rest in the amount of 6 ml/kg of body weight at a temperature of 12 degreesC. Gastric emptying rate was measured by rep eated aspirations via a nasogastric tube using the modified George double-s ampling technique. The intragastric temperature was determined by a tempera ture probe attached to the nasogastric tube. There were no significant diff erences in gastric emptying rates and gastric volumes among the solutions. Intragastric temperature dropped from 36.5 degreesC to 23.3 +/- 3 degreesC immediately after beverage ingestion but recovered to above 30 degreesC wit hin 5 min. These data suggest that the gastric emptying rate of the specifi ed beverages is not affected by the number and type of carbohydrates or by solution osmolalities within the tested range. Within 5 min after ingestion , cold beverages are warmed to above 30 degreesC in the stomach. This infer s that the effect of cold solution temperature on gastric emptying rate is likely to be small and transitory.