EFFECTS OF LENGTH AND REGION OF SMALL INTESTINAL GLUCOSE EXPOSURE ON BLOOD PRESSURE, SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY BLOOD FLOW AND PLASMA NORADRENALINE IN HEALTHY OLDER PARTICIPANTS

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Background: A substantial postprandial reduction in blood pressure (BP), triggered by the interaction of nutrients with the small intestine and associated with increases in heart rate (HR) and splanchnic blood flow, occurs frequently in healthy older people. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether these responses are influenced by the length and/or region of small intestine exposed to nutrients. Design: Randomized, single blind study. Setting: Clinical research laboratory. Participants: Ten healthy older participants (9M, 1F; age 65 – 79 yr). Intervention: On 3 separate study days, participants were intubated with a small intestinal catheter incorporating two duodenal infusion ports and an aspiration port, as well as an occluding balloon, which was positioned ~ 60 cm beyond the pylorus. Each participant then received a 60 min (t = 0 – 60 min) intraluminal infusion of glucose (3 kcal/min) into either the proximal (< 60 cm “GP”), or the distal (> 70 cm “GD”), or both (i.e. proximal and distal “GPD”), small intestinal segments. Measurements: BP, HR (automated device), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) and plasma noradrenaline (NA). Results: Small intestinal glucose infusion was associated with reductions in systolic (GP: P = 0.004, GD: P = 0.001, GPD: P = 0.001) and diastolic (GP: P = 0.007, GD: P = 0.004, GPD: P = 0.003) BP and increases in HR (GP: P = 0.001, GD: P = 0.001, GPD: P = 0.002) and plasma NA (GP: P = 0.001, GD: P = 0.002, GPD: P = 0.001), without any difference between the three days. Conclusion: In healthy older participants, the effects of small intestinal glucose to decrease BP and increase SMA flow in healthy older participants appear to be independent of the region, or length, of small intestine exposed.