Effects of intraduodenal and intravenous fat infusion on small bowel motility in humans. A comparative study of medium- and long-chain triglycerides

Abstract

Objective: To test the effects of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and long-chain triglycerides (LCT), given intraduodenally or intravenously to healthy volunteers, on small bowel motility. Design: Two groups comprized of eight volunteers were studied. The 5-h fat infusion always began 30 min after a phase III. In study 1, volunteers received at random either 50 g LCT or MCT intraduodenally. In study 2, they received 500 ml of an emulsion of either LCT only or 50% LCT/50% MCT intravenously. Manometric recording continued from the beginning of fat delivery until the recurrence of a phase III after fat administration ceased. Results: In study 1, LCTs reduced phases III and I, while intraduodenal MCTs did not effect the fasting motor pattern of the small bowel. In study 2, phase III was recorded in all volunteers with both intravenous infusions. The percentage of time in phase III was greater with MCT than with the LCT infusion but the percentage of time in phases I and II remained the same with both types of intravenous fat. Conclusions: The effects of lipids on small bowel motor activity in humans depends on two parameters: the type of lipid and the route of administration.