Slowing of gastrointestinal transit by oleic acid - A preliminary report of a novel, nutrient-based treatment in humans

Chronic diarrhea may occur when gastrointestinal transit is abnormally rapi d. We hypothesized that oleic acid given prior to a meal would slow gastroi ntestinal transit and reduce diarrhea by activating nutrient-triggered inhi bitory feedback mechanisms in the small intestine. Transit time was measure d in eight normal subjects following ingestion of a control emulsion (0 mi oleic acid), and in 45 patients with chronic diarrhea following ingestion o f emulsions containing 0, 1.6, and 3.2 mi oleic acid. Stool volume and freq uency on and off treatment were compared. Transit time in normal subjects w as 102.4 +/- 11.2 min (mean +/- se). Transit times in patients was shorter at 29.3 +/- 2.8 min with the 0-ml dose (P < 0.001),but increased to 57.2 <p lus/minus> 4.5 min with the 1.6-ml dose and to 83.3 +/- 5.2 min with the 3. 2-ml dose (P < 0.001). In the 18 patients who provided stool records, frequ ency of bowel movements decreased from 6.9 <plus/minus> 0.8 to 5.4 +/- 0.9 bowel movements/24 hr (P < 0.05) and stool volume decreased from 1829.0 <pl us/minus> 368.6 to 1322.5 +/- 256.9 ml/24 hr with treatment (P < 0.05). An emulsion containing oleic acid slowed gastrointestinal transit and reduced diarrhea by activating nutrient-triggered inhibitory feedback mechanisms in the small intestine.